MORE than one child a week was abducted from the State last year.
In addition there were 51 cases "of children who were abducted outside the jurisdiction being brought into the State, according to official figures issued yesterday.
In 17 cases of child abduction from the State, foreign courts ordered the children to be returned.
Courts refused to order their return in five cases, while in 15 cases the children were returned voluntarily or through agreement.
A further 15 of these cases were "awaiting resolution" at the end of 1996.
The majority of the 63 cases of child abduction from the State; were taken to England and Wales.
In a further eight cases, children were taken to the US and in five cases to Northern Ireland.
Two-thirds of the 51 cases of children brought into the State from abroad originated in England and Wales, with seven abduction cases from the US, two from Scotland and two from Italy.
The figures were compiled by the Child Abduction Central Authority in the Department of Equality and Law Reform.
In a statement the Minister, Mr Taylor, said the 87 cases involving 153 children last year represented a decrease of 14 perk cent on the 1995 figure.
Last year's total includes 27 cases, involving 40 children, carried forward from 1995.
In 12 cases Irish courts ordered the return of children abducted into the State and refused the return of the children in eight cases.
In another nine cases the children were returned voluntarily ore by agreement.
Ten applications were withdrawn and eight cases were unresolved at the end of 1996.
A spokesman said the authority is responsible for referring abduction cases to court, on a "fast-track" system.
The cases are heard in camera and not reported in the media.
