News

Latest News

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  • 4 September 2024
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Education

  OCO report highlights scramble to find school places for children with Special Educational Needs

  There is still a scramble every September to find appropriate school places for children with Special Educational Needs, despite progress made by Government in recent years to prioritise the issue. That’s according to Plan for Places, ...

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  • 8 August 2024
  • Type: Press Release

  Survey says almost half of children are bullied and they don’t feel listened to by adults – Tomorrow Starts with Us children’s survey published by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office

  The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) commissioned Tomorrow Starts with Us, a survey carried out with Amárach Research to mark the OCO’s 20th Anniversary. The cost of living, mental health services and future housing needs are ...

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  • 8 July 2024
  • Type: Press Release

  Ombudsman for Children expresses despair at situation facing children in care and lack of investment in Child Law Project

  The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon has today (Monday 8th) expressed his despair at the last volume of case reports published by the Child Law Project. He has also expressed serious concern about the fact ...

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  • 2 July 2024
  • Type: Press Release

  Opening Statement from the Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Mulodoon, to the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

  I thank the Chair and the committee for inviting us to discuss Uncertain Times; The Ombudsman for Children’s Office 2023 Annual Report. I am joined by Ms Nuala Ward, Director of Investigations and Ms Aoife Carragher, ...

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  • 21 May 2024
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Education

  Uncertain Times for children highlighted in OCO’s 2023 Annual Report

  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, with education once again the biggest concern, followed by health and complaints about Tusla. ...

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  • 30 April 2024

  MIC Thurles Summer School: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the OCO

  The Mary Immaculate College, Thurles Summer School returns from 11-13 June this year and will celebrate 20 years of the OCO. This year’s theme is how children’s voices have changed the landscape of education and participation ...

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  • 23 April 2024
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Education

  Ombudsman for Children’s Office Youth Advisory Panel Opening Statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

  We are the Ombudsman for Children’s Youth Advisory Panel and we are here today to talk to you about our work. Firstly, we want to tell you about our Pieces of Us series of reports, which ...

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  • 19 April 2024
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Education, Health

  OCO hosts Children’s Party to celebrate 20 years of promoting and protecting children’s rights

  The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) hosted over 100 children from local schools at the Swan Regional Youth Centre, St Agatha’s Hall in Dublin 1 on Thursday, April 18th to celebrate the Office’s 20th Anniversary. The ...

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  • 19 February 2024
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Education, Health

  Children being let down in Education, Mental Health and Disability Services

  The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) has highlighted its concerns over shortcomings faced by children in education, mental health and disability services, to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It’s the first time ...

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  • 8 February 2024
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Mental Health

  Children calling for Government action following UN Committee’s observations

  Over 100 children from across Ireland came together to discuss the action they expect from Government as a result of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Concluding Observations to the State. The Ombudsman ...