Two per cent of complaints about children’s public services came from Mayo
MAYO accounted for 2% of complaints about children’s public services to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) last year, with a total of 1,772 contacts about complaints made to the Office.
The OCO’s annual report for 2024 - Tomorrow Starts with Us - was published in Dublin recently, with Mayo teenager Eoin Murphy the guest host for the launch.
Eoin, aged 17, from Foxford, introduced the Ombudsman for Children, Niall Muldoon, and the team to attendees at the OCO office. The teenager also hosted the OCO’s Child Talks event at the Helix in Dubin last November.
The annual report showed that education remains the most complained about issue to the OCO at 33%, followed by Tusla (19%), and complaints about children’s health services (15%), including a lack of access to an Assessment of Need. It also marked the 20th anniversary year of the establishment of the OCO to promote and protect children’s rights in Ireland.
During 2024, the OCO engaged with almost 2,500 children through Rights Education workshops and school visits around the country and continued important outreach work in Direct Provision and accommodation centres, Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus, CAMHS and community and voluntary centres.
Dr. Muldoon commented: “We were delighted to have Eoin on board to help us launch our annual report for 2024, as well as members of our Youth Advisory Panel. It is always really important to us that children’s voices are heard on issues that impact them and that young people are given a platform to share their views.
“Our annual report shows that there has been much progress made for children in the two decades since our office first opened its doors in 2004, but in the current climate of uncertainty and change, it is more important than ever for the State to bed down its commitment on children’s rights. That is why we are committed to driving our campaign for the full and direct incorporation of the UNCRC into Irish law.
“Incorporation is the most important thing we can do to protect and safeguard the rights of all children in Ireland. Every issue we highlight in our annual report leads us back to the need to give real force to the international obligations we have already signed up to. It will put children and their rights at the heart of every decision within the public and civil service and gives us a stronger basis to ensure we are keeping our promises to children.”
He added: “As we reflect on the 20 years since our office began working to promote and protect children’s rights in Ireland, the progress that has been made and the wonderful staff who have come through our doors in that time, we must also remember to look to the future and at the possibilities that lay before us to improve the lives of all children here.
“Ireland is now at a crossroads of what can be achieved for children and this Office will continue to push for the rights of children to be the signpost that is followed at all times. By doing that we can bring to life the government’s promise to make Ireland the best place in Europe for children to grow up.”