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Complaints in numbers
The OCO has been taking complaints about children’s public services since we first opened our doors in 2004. Have a look back at the stats over the past 5 years below.
Most of our complaints come from parents and guardians, with family members, professionals working with children and children themselves also contacting the OCO.
Find out more about our complaints here.
2025
Number of complaints in 2025
In 2025, the OCO received 1,778 complaints about children’s public services.
What were complaints about?
| Sector | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Education | 31% |
| Tusla | 20% |
| Health | 14% |
| Housing & Local Authority | 6% |
| Justice | 3% |
| DCDE | 3% |
| Other Government Departments | 5% |
| Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus | 1% |
| Other in remit/unspecified | 3% |
| Early Childhood Education (not in our remit) | 3% |
| Out of remit | other 11% |
Complaints by County
Who were Complaints from?
| Source | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Parent | 81% |
| Professional/organisation working with children | 5% |
| Child | 4% |
| Extended family | 3% |
| Concerned/unrelated adult | 2% |
| Adult about own childhood/sibling | 1% |
Anonymous/unspecified | 4% |
Age of the children we received complaints about:
| Age range | 2025 |
|---|---|
| 1 – 4 years | 14% |
| 5 – 9 years | 23% |
| 10 – 14 years | 36% |
| 15 – 19 years | 26% |
| 20 + years | 1% |
2024
Number of complaints in 2024
In 2024 the OCO received 1,772 contacts in relation to complaints.
What were complaints about?
Complaints by County
Who were Complaints from?
Age of the children we received complaints about:
Complaint outreach visits and their impact
2023
Number of new complaints in 2023
Percentage complaints by county in 2023
Who contacted us?
| Parent | Professional | Extended Family | Unrelated Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 3% |
Breakdown of complaints
| Topic | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Education | 40% |
| Health | 23% |
| Housing (Local Authority) | 7% |
| Tusla | 23% |
| – International Protection (IPAS) – Department of Foreign Affairs – Other Government Departments | 3% 3% 1% |
| * Special Category – Early Childhood Education and Care (not currently within remit of OCO) | 4% |
2022
Number of new complaints in 2022
Percentage complaints by county in 2022
Who contacted us?
| Complainant | Percentage of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Parent | 83% |
| Professional/Organisation | 5% |
| Other/Unknown | 4% |
| Extended Family | 3% |
| Unrelated Adult | 3% |
| Child | 2% |
Breakdown of complaints
2021
Number of new complaints in 2021
Percentage complaints by county in 2021
Who contacted us?
| Year | Parents | Professional / Organisations | Children | Extended Family | Unrelated Adults | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 80% | 8% | 6% | 3% | 3% | 4% |
| 2021 | 51% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 45% | 1% |
Breakdown of complaints
| Year | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Education complaints | 46% | 53% |
| Health complaints | 14% | 17% |
| Local Authority complaints | 6% | 5% |
| Justice complaints | 5% | 1% |
| Finance, Social Protection and Welfare complaints | 2% | 1% |
| Family Support, Care and Protection complaints | 20% | 12% |
| Other complaints | 7% | 12% |
2020
Number of new complaints in 2020
Percentage complaints by county in 2020
Who contacted us?
Breakdown of complaints
2019
Number of new complaints in 2019
In 2019, we received 1,503 new complaints.
Percentage complaints by county in 2019
Who contacted us?
Breakdown of complaints
Next steps
Our complaints
process
Online complaints form
Complaints form in other languages
Complaints in numbers
When we cannot help
Other methods
to make a complaint
Freephone
1800 20 20 40
Post to
52-56 Great Strand St, Dublin 1, D01 F5P8