The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee says if there were failings in protecting Kyran Durnin, those responsible will be held to account.
The eight-year-old from Drogheda, Co Louth was reported missing from his home in August, but gardaí believe he has been missing for more than two years.
A murder investigation is underway as investigators say they have no evidence to suggest that he is still alive.
Ms McEntee says if there were any state failings, then there will also be accountability.
"If any State agency here has not done their job properly, if any individual has not done their job properly, I would expect they would help accountable. I absolutely stand by that: a child is missing presumed dead. We do not have the full facts as to what has happened here, so I would plead with anyone who has any information to bring them forward to the gardaí."
Detectives in Drogheda have established that Kyran Durnin, who was reported missing by his family on August 30th, had not been seen for many months, and possibly for more than two years.
The case itself was upgraded from a missing person case to a murder investigation on Wednesday, despite no remains being discovered or any crime scene being identified.
Gardaí have also confirmed that Tusla is working with officers and cooperating fully with the investigation.
A statement by Gardaí earlier this week said: “Despite extensive enquiries carried out by Gardaí to date, An Garda Síochána have been unable to either locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive."
