The Health Service Executive (HSE) today insisted it acted on warnings from a TD over the welfare of a 14-year-old girl who died after inhaling aerosols.
Michelle Bray (14), from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, died on Sunday evening a short distance from her home after sniffing deodorant.
Fine Gael TD John Deasy said he had written to the HSE and warned of the urgent need to put the teenager in care because she was a risk to herself and others. He insisted the HSE never responded to him.
But Dermot Halpin, the HSE's local health manager for the Waterford Community Services Area, said they did act on the warnings from Mr Deasy. "At no time was residential care as an option ruled out," Mr Halpin said.
However, he said the case was being reviewed.
Michelle had been in trouble over the last three years and came to the attention of gardaí; in 2004 a decision was made to find her a residential care place for her own safety, although she was never taken in.
The HSE said in 2005 matters settled down considerably, and a decision was then taken to keep Michelle with her family.
She died at the weekend after collapsing near her home in the Childers Estate in Dungarvan, despite efforts by onlookers and emergency services to revive her.
She was buried yesterday in Dungarvan after a funeral Mass at St Mary's Church.
PA