Tomorrow starts with us!
The second highest number of complaints about children's public services came from Cork in 2024, new data has revealed.
According to a report the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO) Annual Report 2024, 10% of Ireland’s total complaints on child services came from Cork.
The report, titled ‘Tomorrow Starts with Us’, was published last month and shows there were a total of 1,772 complaints to the OCO in Ireland last year. Almost one in five of them related to more than one agency, while a third related to multiple categories of concern.
Education was the most complained about issue to the OCO in 2024 at 33%, followed by Tusla at 19%, and complaints about children’s health services 15%, including a lack of access to an assessment of need.
The 2024 report marked the 20th year since the OCO was established in 2004 to protect and promote the rights of children in Ireland. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, said the latest report shows there has been much progress made for children since then and described the report as a “real milestone” for the OCO.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“We have been raising these and other issues directly with the Taoiseach and cabinet ministers to ensure that every child in Ireland can fully enjoy their full suite of rights,” added Dr Muldoon.
During 2024, the OCO engaged with almost 2,500 children through rights education workshops and school visits around the country. Events were held throughout the year to mark the 20th anniversary, including a children’s party for local schools at Mayfield Sports Centre in Cork city.
Dr Muldoon said: “As part of these celebrations we were delighted to host a children’s party in Cork city in October, meeting children from local schools and delivering rights education workshops.
“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,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dr Muldoon said Ireland currently stands at a crossroads of what can be achieved for children.
“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,” he concluded.