Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed in the Dáil on Tuesday the Cabinet had agreed a commission of investigation into the abuse controversy in the southeast.

He said its setting up would be subject to the terms of reference being agreed by the Oireachtas elected in the general election.

Mr Kenny said a commission could run parallel with a Garda investigation. However, it could mean that when the inquiry was completed, it could not be published pending elements of what might emerge from the Garda inquiry, he added.

Mr Kenny said the abuse represented “another serious legacy issue’’, particularly in the case of the person known as “Grace’’.

“I think it is important to understand there is a great deal of allegations made surrounding this and other issues relating to this particular premises,’’ he added.

“Clearly, the safety and protection of vulnerable people has to be of paramount importance to the State.’’

Mr Kenny was replying to Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin who said a whistleblower had given an account on Claire Byrne's RTÉ television show on Monday night on how an intellectually disabled child, "Grace'', was left in a foster home where she was consistently abused.

"The abuse has been described is quite shocking,'' Mr Martin added.

He said it was incomprehensible a child could be left so long in such a dangerous household.

In all, said Mr Martin, an estimated 47 children or adults were involved in the scandal.