The Department of Health and Children has refused to provide The Irish Times with a copy of a consultants' report which describes the State's family support services as "dysfunctional and inadequate".
The Department rejected a request under the Freedom of Information Act on the grounds that the report is in draft form.
Almost two months ago, the Department presented the report to the High Court, saying the Minister "has seen and accepted it".
An official in the Department's child-care division told the court that while the report was still in draft form, it was not anticipated there would be any substantive changes in the final version.
Counsel for the Eastern Health Board said the EHB agreed in principle with the suggestions in the report.
The report, by a Scottish firm, concluded that "dysfunctional and inadequate families are being cared for by dysfunctional and inadequate services".
The court was told the Minister was committed to implementing the recommendations in the report.
But the Department has now told The Irish Times "the report concerned is currently in draft form and the Department has therefore decided not to grant your request under Section 20".
It was presented to the High Court in the course of an attempt on behalf of a troubled child to force the Government to fund a 24-bed secure unit in Portrane, Co Dublin.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Department's decision can be appealed to the Department itself and, if the appeal is rejected, it can be appealed to the independent Information Commissioner.