A review of child sex abuse safeguarding practices in the Irish Province of the Society of African Missions has revealed that allegations of abuse were made against 21 priests from the province between 1975 and the end of last year.Ten of those priests were still alive at the time when the review was conducted last December.
Two have been laicised, and an application has been made for the laicisation of a third.
The review states that just one of the 21 priests against whom an allegation was made was convicted of a criminal offence.
The review states that three priests against whom concerns were raised remain in some form of ministry in mission countries.
Following an examination of their cases, the NBSCCCI was satisfied that there were no child safeguarding issues to be addressed.
The Irish Province of the SMA has 193 members, of whom approximately 140 are still working while the remaining members are retired.
The Irish Province is engaged in missionary work in seven African countries.
It also runs two parishes in Cork city and a large retreat and conference centre at Dromantine near Newry in Co Down.
The review is largely positive, showing that the Irish Province has met most of the standards set down for the management of abuse allegations made against members and the structures in place for dealing with them.
The review team paid tribute to the commitment of Fr Fachtna O'Driscoll, who is leader of the Irish Province.
In a statement, Fr O'Driscoll said guaranteeing the safety of children is an on-going priority for the Society of African Missions.
He said he found the process of the review a constructive one which brought greater clarity to the society's work in this area.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore said the audit acknowledged the positive work being done there.
He said there are good systems and practices in place and Bishop William Lee was strongly commended for his personal commitment and leadership in keeping children safe.
He said that of the allegations made against 15 priests, none led to criminal convictions.
The spokesperson said three of the priests are back in ministry and the allegations against one of them was acknowledged by the complainant to be false.
He added that concerns relating to the other two were thoroughly investigated and the priests were deemed to be fit to continue in ministry.