Library

Latest Releases

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  • December 2012
  • Type: Investigation
  • Topic: Disability, Education

  A statement regarding educational provision in mainstream school for children with Down Syndrome

  In September 2009 and May 2010, the Office received separate but similar complaints. The complaints were made by two mothers on behalf of two children with Down Syndrome. The complaints related to the education of the ...

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  • November 2012
  • Type: Report
  • Topic: Education

  The story of the Ombudsman for Children’s Youth Advisory Panel

  In 2003, Government and nongovernmental agencies collaborated on a groundbreaking recruitment process for the appointment of Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children. This process was the first time that children and young people were involved in a ...

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  • November 2012
  • Type: Investigation
  • Topic: Children in care, Housing

  Investigation relating to children who are homeless and accommodated under Section 5 of the Child Care Act and children in the Care of the HSE accessing homeless services

  Over the past number of years we have received and examined complaints on an individual basis in which issues were raised regarding homeless service provision for children by the HSE. This includes children already in the care ...

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  • October 2012
  • Type: Report
  • Topic: Children in care, Housing

  Homeless Truths; Children’s experiences of homelessness in Ireland

  The issue of homeless children came to the attention of the OCO through our Complaints and Investigation function, and has been dealt with on a case by case basis and has been reported to the Oireachtas ...

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  • October 2012
  • Type: Report

  Report to the Oireachtas on the Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012

  The Government published the Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill, 2012 on the 19th of September 2012. The Bill sets out a proposed amendment to the Constitution, repealing section 5 of the existing Article 42 ...

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  • September 2012
  • Type: Finance/OCO records
  • Topic: OCO info

  Annual Report 2011

  The Ombudsman for Children’s Office is required under law to submit to the Oireachtas an Annual Report on the performance of our functions. The annual report is a comprehensive report on our activities throughout the preceding ...

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  • June 2012
  • Type: Advice
  • Topic: Child protection

  Advice on the Heads of the Children First Bill 2012 and the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012

  The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs published the Heads of the Children First Bill on the 25th of April 2012. The purpose of the proposed legislation is to place certain aspects of Children First: National ...

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  • May 2012
  • Type: Report
  • Topic: Education

  Dealing with Bullying in Schools: A Consultation with Children & Young People

  Since its establishment the OCO has engaged directly with hundreds of schools across the country and heard from thousands of children, parents as well as professionals working in the education system. Among the challenges that professionals ...

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  • April 2012
  • Type: Investigation
  • Topic: Education

  Refusal to enrol a pregnant girl in school

  In early 2011 a complaint was submitted to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office by a mother and her daughter. The complaint related to the refusal by School A to enrol the young person for the school years 2009/1010 ...

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  • March 2012
  • Type: Investigation
  • Topic: Disability, Education

  Refusal to provide an assistive technology grant to a child by the Department of Education and Skills

  An investigation was initiated in August 2010 by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office based on a complaint, brought by the mother of an 11-year-old child, regarding the refusal by the Department of Education and Skills (from this ...