The number of complaints received by the Ombudsman for Children increased by 10 per cent last year, according to the statutory body’s fourth annual report published today.
The Ombudsman for Children promotes and safeguards the rights and welfare of children.
In 2008, it received 810 complaints, a ten per cent increase on 2007, and a significant change since its first year of operations in 2004, when 95 complaints were received.
The majority of complaints received are made by parents. However the office has seen an increase in the number of professionals submitting complaints on behalf of children.
Forty-one per cent of complaints related to issues surrounding children’s education, 34 per cent to health services, 10 per cent to the justice system and 4 per cent to housing and planning. The remaining 11 per cent of complaints related to social welfare payments or allowances and private and voluntary organisations.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan said gaps in law, policy and practice meant that some children remain vulnerable and are not receiving the full support of the State.
Ms Logan said she was particularly concerned about the absence of a mechanism to deal with inappropriate behaviours towards children in school settings; gaps in law where allegations of abuse against staff in education and health settings fall short of prosecution and the lack of any statutory obligation on the State to provide aftercare support to young people leaving care.
She also highlighted the lack of independent inspection for children in residential care and the lack of independent inspection for ‘separated children’ in care as being of particular concern.
“The information we have learned over the past year makes me feel uneasy. It also makes me as Ombudsman for Children reflect on my own role and the increasing significance of the work of this office and the unique contribution we can make to safeguarding children’s rights,” she said.
Focus Ireland echoed Ms Logan's concerns this afternoon and called for better provision of support, suitable accommodation options and an effective out-of-hours system to protect young people who fall out of the care system before 18-years of age.
"The current situation is that once a young person living in care turns eighteen the State no longer has a legal obligation to help that person to make a successful transition to adult life, " said Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy with the charity.
"Without support many young people coming out of care struggle to cope. They can often end up becoming marginalised, homeless, with some developing addiction problems and even getting sucked into petty crime," he added.
The Labour Party's spokeswoman on equality Kathleen Lynch welcomed the report and said it highlighted the failure of some public bodies to meet the needs of children with a disability.
"Clearly, we are still a long way away from a situation where a culture of taking on board the needs and concerns of people with disabilities, prevails at official level," she said.