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  • 9 October 2024
  • Type: Press Release

  Ombudsman for Children puts Election Manifesto Asks to TDs and Senators at Leinster House alongside former Scottish Commissioner for Children

  The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) has today presented their priorities for children for the next Programme for Government in Leinster House. The OCO were joined by Bruce Adamson, Former Commissioner for Children and Young People ...

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  • 8 October 2024
  • Type: Press Release

  €17.9m investment in local authority halting site will benefit children and can be an example to others – Ombudsman for Children

  The response from a Local Authority to an Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) investigation into living conditions for 66 children and their families at a halting site could act as a blueprint of success for other ...

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

  Ombudsman for Children’s Office Transition Year In Focus calls for fair and equitable access for all children

  The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) has received a number of complaints concerning young people who have been refused a place in their school’s Transition Year (TY) programme; some due to behaviour, mental health or disability. Parents, ...

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  • 18 September 2024
  • Type: Press Release
  • Topic: Disability, Mental Health

  Ombudsman for Children highlights key budgetary changes that would transform children’s services and supports in Ireland

  The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon has written to the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform urging them to ensure children are prioritised in a meaningful way in the upcoming budgetary ...

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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 ...