{"id":1362,"date":"2009-10-12T16:20:04","date_gmt":"2009-10-12T16:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/?p=1362"},"modified":"2017-11-15T16:23:42","modified_gmt":"2017-11-15T16:23:42","slug":"childrens-ombudsman-calls-consideration-children-special-needs-housing-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/ga\/news\/childrens-ombudsman-calls-consideration-children-special-needs-housing-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Children\u2019s Ombudsman calls for consideration of children with special needs in housing policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Poor housing, long delays, lack of communication rank highly in complaints to OCO<\/p>\n

OCO report makes recommendations, urges action from local authorities and Government<\/p>\n

Download the report ‘A review of complaints on behalf of children with special needs regarding the provision of housing’<\/a><\/p>\n

Children\u2019s Ombudsman, Emily Logan, has today (Monday) published a review of complaints submitted to her Office on behalf of children with special needs regarding the provision of housing. Contained in this report are recommendations for action from Government and local authorities to significantly improve housing provision for children with special needs.<\/p>\n

This report was commenced following an increase in the number of complaints to the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office (OCO). The report\u2019s findings are also informed by children with special needs and their parents who took part in a recent consultation exercise undertaken by the OCO.<\/p>\n

The issues highlighted in this report include difficulties accessing suitable housing due to how the requirements of children with special needs are assessed and prioritised, delays in the provision of accommodation, the lack of suitable housing to meet specific needs, and poor consultation and communication between local authorities and children and their families.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the findings of the report, Emily Logan said:<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the complaints received by my Office, it is clear that some families experience difficulties when seeking housing from local authorities for a child with special needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn some cases, local authorities offer housing which is not appropriate for the child in question, leaving parents concerned that a refusal to accept the offer could result in them being penalised on the housing list. There are also cases where children\u2019s medical needs have not been prioritised appropriately by local authorities. In addition, parents have raised concerns with my Office regarding the level of communication that they have with local authorities when seeking appropriate accommodation for their children.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am particularly concerned that it can take a long time for suitable accommodation to be found for a child with special needs, or for necessary adaptations to be made to bring a house up to standard. Waiting for years for a suitable house, and living for a large proportion of your childhood in sub-standard accommodation, should not be the experience for any child with special needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am making six recommendations in the report published today. These include:<\/p>\n