A 25-year-old man has pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court to wilfully ill treating, abandoning or mistreating a child in his care.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, only spoke to plead guilty.
The offence took place last August in the north Donegal area.
The court was told that the man was cooperating with TUSLA over the past number of months.
No details of the incident were given in court at this time.
Judge John Aylmer directed a Probation and Welfare Report on the man and an assessment to see if he was suitable for community service.
He then adjourned the case until the May sitting of the court in 2022.