A total of 1,790 complaints were made to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) about children’s public services in Ireland last year.

That’s according to the OCO’s annual report for 2023 that shows complaints are becoming more complex, with one in five relating to more than one State agency.

Education was the most complained about area last year, accounting for 40% of all complaints to the OCO.

Health accounted for 23% of complaints made, as did Tusla, the child and family agency.

Ombudsman

Children’s Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said reports findings show there is a “climate of uncertainty and instability for many children in Ireland at the moment”.

“Children’s issues are fighting for Government’s attention at a time when there is a housing crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, an international protection crisis, and when our public services are under increasing pressure,” he said.

“These issues are all having an unquantifiable impact on children too, yet they are not necessarily seen as children’s issues, thus protecting the State from having to properly fulfill its obligation to them.”

Child lying in a hospital bed awaiting operation. Image: imtmphoto / Alamy Stock Photo

Dr Muldoon said children’s mental health services are lacking in Ireland.

“Children are still waiting far too long for vital, life-changing spinal surgeries and our Children’s Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are not uniformly of a high standard across the board," he said.

“In some parts of the country, as the Mental Health Commission Review showed last year, these services are completely unfit for purpose.

“There are some parents of children with complex disabilities who are being forced to leave their children at hospitals and special schools in the hope of triggering the right supports and services they need to care for them at home.”

Homeless person shelters from the cold Ha’penny Bridge in Dublin. Image: Michael Rooney / Alamy

The Ombudsman also noted childhood homelessness as an issue.

“Homelessness and family homelessness in particular is at an all-time high, with the number of children without a home surpassing the 4,000 mark at the start of the year," he said.

“And yet Ireland is one of the richest countries in the world.

“For many children thankfully, Ireland is indeed a great place to grow up in and they are living happy and fulfilled lives - but this is not the case for all.”

Some 82% of complaints made last year came from parents, with just 3% coming from children themselves.

Main image: A teenage girl on her phone. Image: Samuel wordley / Alamy