{"id":17746,"date":"2026-03-04T13:10:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T13:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/news\/oireachtas-joint-committee-on-disability-matters-opening-statement-by-the-ombudsman-for-childrens-office-2\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T13:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T12:44:10","slug":"oireachtas-joint-committee-on-disability-matters-opening-statement-by-the-ombudsman-for-childrens-office-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/ga\/news\/oireachtas-joint-committee-on-disability-matters-opening-statement-by-the-ombudsman-for-childrens-office-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters Opening Statement by the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters Opening Statement by the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wednesday, 4 March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you to the Chairperson and the Committee for inviting the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office to provide our observations on the General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Established in 2004, the OCO is an independent and statutory human rights body with two core functions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>to promote and protect the rights and welfare of all children; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>to examine and investigate complaints made by or for children about the administrative actions of public bodies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The OCO has long advocated for a child-centred, rights-based approach to disability law, grounded in a holistic and multidisciplinary understanding of children\u2019s development and needs. Every child with a disability in Ireland has the right, under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to the highest level of health and education to fulfil their potential. Their rights to equality and non-discrimination, accessibility, and effective participation and inclusion are further reinforced under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2020, we published <a href=\"https:\/\/oco.cloud.gov.ie\/apps\/eDocs\/S\/OCO092\/Files\/OCO092-006-2022\/Disability%20Act%202005%20(as%20revised%20up%20until%202018)\/Disability%20(Amendment)%20bill%202025\/v1.%20Submission_General%20Scheme_Disability%20Act_%2024.02.26.docx?d=w58515c41716342bfbd92d07e8c6b4ea4\">Unmet Needs: A report on the challenges faced by children who<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/oco.cloud.gov.ie\/apps\/eDocs\/S\/OCO092\/Files\/OCO092-006-2022\/Disability%20Act%202005%20(as%20revised%20up%20until%202018)\/Disability%20(Amendment)%20bill%202025\/v1.%20Submission_General%20Scheme_Disability%20Act_%2024.02.26.docx?d=w58515c41716342bfbd92d07e8c6b4ea4\">require an assessment of their needs<\/a>. Six years later, we are here today reiterating many of the recommendations in that report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Daily we receive complaints from distraught parents whose children have been on a waiting list for years to access an assessment of need for their child. Many have then found that, once their child is assessed, they struggle to get any or all of the services recommended to help their child talk, move, learn and grow. Change is urgently needed, and any reforms must ensure children\u2019s timely access to services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The General Scheme introduces targeted amendments intended to clarify and streamline elements of the Assessment of Need (AON) process. The Disability Act provides an assessment of the need for services, rather than an assessment of the child\u2019s holistic health and development needs. In this context, we acknowledge that that the General Scheme is a shift in focus toward needs and away from overly resource-intensive diagnostic reporting, which is welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it does not address the broader structural reforms identified in our 2020 report. Specifically, the Scheme does not:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>provide for the insertion of guiding principles to inform interpretation and implementation of the Disability Act 2005<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>amend the statutory definition of disability in Section 2 to make it rights-based and child-centred<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>embed an explicit best interest, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to assessment under Section 7<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>strengthen enforcement mechanisms, including by expanding the remedial powers of the Disability Appeals Officer under Section 18.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is potentially a missed opportunity for rights alignment, statutory coherence and effective accountability within the framework of the 2005 Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Legislative amendments designed to reduce burdens on resources must not erode children\u2019s statutory rights, including the right to a comprehensive assessment process that can lawfully and effectively identify the child\u2019s needs and the services required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I turn now to our comments on specific Heads of the Scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head 3 <\/strong>introduces an initial determination of disability, prior to an assessment of need. The practical effect of this requires close scrutiny. In the OCO\u2019s view, a determination must involve a holistic appraisal of the child\u2019s lived experience, including the barriers that impede participation and the supports that may remove them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The replacement of \u201cdisability\u201d with \u201crestriction\u201d does align with human rights approaches to disability but it sidelines the broader question about the definition of disability in law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head 4 <\/strong>proposes to postpone mandatory engagement with the education sector until after a disability determination is made. We are concerned that such a strict sequencing approach could lead to inconsistent access to educational expertise at the disability determination stage, where formal NCSE involvement is deferred until after disability determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Head also amends the assessment report to include a statement of the \u201csignificant difficulty in communication, learning or mobility or the significantly disordered cognitive processes\u201d giving rise to the need for services, rather than a statement of the nature and extent of the disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is potentially one of the most consequential aspects of the General Scheme. We are concerned that this amendment may be perceived (and potentially used) as a legislative route to lowering the \u201cgold standard\u201d of statutory AON content in response to resource constraints, rather than as a child-centred, rights-based reform grounded in an inclusive, holistic needs assessment model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head 6 <\/strong>permits the Minister to require the HSE to issue guidelines providing practical guidance on the assessment process. We recognise that this has the potential to improve consistency and legal compliance nationally. However, guidelines cannot substitute for statutory rights, and they must have robust statutory underpinning and oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Head also enables the Minister to make regulations relating to the closure of applications. While there may be circumstances where it becomes impracticable to progress an application, any new closure power must include children\u2019s rights safeguards, including clear notice requirements, child-appropriate and family friendly communication, and an appeals mechanism<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Head 7 <\/strong>relates to transitional provisions. These can have significant practical effects for children who have been waiting long periods for assessment. It is essential that transitional arrangements are assessed through a child rights lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further to these observations, we emphasise that reform of the 2005 Act cannot be considered in isolation from a wider review of the Disability Act, education legislation and other access pathways. One of the major drivers of pressure on the AON system has been the non-commencement of core EPSEN provisions, which means that<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">families may rely on the AON process to access educational assessments and supports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this respect, I draw the Committee\u2019s attention to our written submission, which provides an analysis of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathway Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also recommend that consideration be given to the views of children in the design of key policies and strategies affecting them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you and I look forward to the discussion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters Opening Statement by the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office Wednesday, 4 March 2026 Thank you to the Chairperson and the Committee for inviting the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office to provide our <a class=\"read_more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/ga\/news\/oireachtas-joint-committee-on-disability-matters-opening-statement-by-the-ombudsman-for-childrens-office-2\/\">&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"post_types_api":[48],"post_topics_api":[40,33,32],"class_list":["post-17746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","type-statement","topic-disability","topic-education","topic-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - 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autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_5ade991166ca51f305c00aaf9050bd79":["1542650605"],"_oembed_a1c2e171b3225a5d9615e52b897a64b8":["<iframe width=\"1379\" height=\"776\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KQDYaLXL9us?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_a1c2e171b3225a5d9615e52b897a64b8":["1542650626"],"irishTitle":["Cairt Chustaim\u00e9ir\u00ed"],"irishContent":["T\u00e1 Oifig an Ombudsman do Leana\u00ed tiomanta chun seirbh\u00eds ard-chaighde\u00e1nach a shol\u00e1thar d\u00e1r gcustaim\u00e9ir\u00ed de r\u00e9ir Prionsabail De\u00e1-riarach\u00e1n um Ombudsman agus Seirbh\u00eds\u00ed Custaim\u00e9ara den scoth faomhadh ag an Rialtas.\r\n<h2>\u00c1r R\u00f3l<\/h2>\r\nBuna\u00edodh Oifig an Ombudsman do Leana\u00ed I 2004 faoi reachta\u00edocht phr\u00edomha, an tAcht um Ombudsman do Leana\u00ed 2002 (ref COGG). T\u00e1 mand\u00e1id reacht\u00fail ag an OOL monat\u00f3ireacht a dh\u00e9anamh ar cearta agus leasa leana\u00ed suas le 18 mbliana d\u2019aois at\u00e1 c\u00f3na\u00ed ortha in \u00c9irinn agus iad a choth\u00fa.\u00a0 T\u00e1 neamhsple\u00e1chas reacht\u00fail ag an Ombudsman do Leana\u00ed i gcomhl\u00edonadh na mand\u00e1ide agus t\u00e1 s\u00e9 freagrach d\u00edreach don Oireachtas.\r\n\r\nIs iad feidhmeanna an OOL n\u00f3 r\u00f3l traidisi\u00fanta an Ombudsman cearta daoine ar leith n\u00f3 gr\u00fapa\u00ed a chosaint, tr\u00ed gear\u00e1in at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta i gcoinne eagra\u00edochta\u00ed poibl\u00ed a fhiosr\u00fa go neamhsple\u00e1ch agus go neamhchlaonta. F\u00e9adfaidh an OOL gear\u00e1in d\u00e9anta le, n\u00f3 ar son leana\u00ed, i gcoinne gn\u00edomha\u00edochta\u00ed eagra\u00edochta\u00ed poibl\u00ed, at\u00e1 ag sol\u00e1thar seirbh\u00eds\u00ed do, n\u00f3 ag d\u00e9anamh cinnt\u00ed, faoi leana\u00ed agus teaghlaigh, chomh maith le eagra\u00edochta\u00ed ag sol\u00e1thar seirbh\u00eds\u00ed ar son an St\u00e1it, a fhiosr\u00fa.\r\n\r\nT\u00e1 mand\u00e1id ag an OOL le cearta agus leasa leana\u00ed a chuir chun cinn faoi alt 7 Acht an Ombudsman do Leana\u00ed.\r\n<h2>\u00c1r tiomantas<\/h2>\r\n<h3><strong>Cad is f\u00e9idir leat a bheith ag s\u00fail leis on OOL:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Ta muid tiomanta seirbh\u00eds den scoth a shol\u00e1thar<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Caithfidh muid go m\u00fainte agus go proifisi\u00fanta leat<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Caithfidh muid go maorga agus go meas\u00fail\u00a0 leat<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><strong>Teagmh\u00e1il a dh\u00e9anamh ar an bhf\u00f3n: <\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<strong>M\u00e1 dh\u00e9anann t\u00fa teagmh\u00e1il ar an bhf\u00f3n<\/strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Gheobhaidh t\u00fa freagra uainn chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir;<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Tabharfaidh muid ainm duit nuair a freagra\u00edonn muid do ghlao<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Freagra\u00edodh muid do ghl\u00f3r phost chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Beidh muid m\u00edn, proifisi\u00fanta I gc\u00f3na\u00ed<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Tabharfaidh muid freagra do do cheist.\u00a0 Mura f\u00e9idir \u00ed a fhreagairt l\u00e1ithreach, t\u00f3gfaidh muid do shonra\u00ed agus cuirfidh muid glao ar ais duit chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Is f\u00e9idir glao a chur orainn Luan go hAoine ar 01 865 6800 I rith uaireanta oifige.\u00a0 Ma bhaineann s\u00e9 le gear\u00e1n nua n\u00f3 gear\u00e1n at\u00e1 lean\u00fanach, glaoigh an uimhir shaorghlao um Gear\u00e1n ar 1800 20 20 40 idir 9.15am agus 4pm<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><strong>Cumars\u00e1id Scr\u00edofa:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<strong>Litreacha, facsanna agus r\u00edomhphoist<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Tabharfar ainm agus sonra\u00ed teagmh\u00e1la leis an freagra<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Tabharfar freagra chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir<\/li>\r\n \t<li>\u00das\u00e1idfear gn\u00e1thchaint, n\u00ed bhainfear \u00fas\u00e1id as b\u00e9arlagair n\u00f3 t\u00e9arma\u00ed teicni\u00fala, ach amh\u00e1in m\u00e1s g\u00e1 \u00e9.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><strong>Cuairteoir\u00ed chuig an oifig: <\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>M\u00e1 thugann t\u00fa cuairt d\u00fainn<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Caithfidh muid go m\u00edn agus go meas\u00fail leat<\/li>\r\n \t<li>M\u00e1 t\u00e1 coinne agat buailfidh muid leat ag an t-am a bh\u00ed socraithe<\/li>\r\n \t<li>M\u00e1 bhuaileann t\u00fa isteach gan coinne, \u00e9asc\u00f3idh muid cruinni\u00fa leat, m\u00e1s f\u00e9idir<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Cuirfidh muid \u00e1is chu\u00ed ar fail don chruinni\u00fa<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Coinneoidh muid oifig phoibl\u00ed at\u00e1 glan agus slachtmhar, de r\u00e9ir chaighde\u00e1in sl\u00e1inte agus s\u00e1bh\u00e1ilteacht.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Seirbh\u00eds\u00ed tr\u00ed mean na Gaeilge<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>D\u00e9anfaidh muid gach iarracht \u00e9asc\u00f3idh le daoine ar mhaith leo teagmh\u00e1il linn tr\u00ed mean na Gaeilge.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Freagr\u00f3far comhfhreagras i nGaeilge tr\u00ed Gaeilge<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Foilseofar, ag an am c\u00e9anna, pr\u00edomhchaip\u00e9is\u00ed mar R\u00e1it\u00e9is Strait\u00e9iseacha agus Tuarasc\u00e1il Bhliant\u00fail<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Comhl\u00edonfaidh muid \u00e1r tiomantas faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigi\u00fala 2003.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Comhionannas \/ \u00c9ags\u00falachta<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>T\u00e1 muid tiomanta seirbh\u00eds a chuir ar fail d\u00e1r gcustaim\u00e9ir\u00ed a seasann lena gcearta at\u00e1 de r\u00e9ir reachta\u00edocht chomhionannais.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Beidh \u00e1r seirbh\u00eds\u00ed agus \u00e1iseanna\u00a0 rochtana do ch\u00e1ch ina measc daoine le riachtanais speisialta.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><strong>Gear\u00e1n faoi ghn\u00edomha\u00edochta\u00ed comhlachta\u00ed poibl\u00ed a chuirtear \u00f3s comhair an fhoireann Gear\u00e1n agus Imscr\u00fadaithe:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nChomh maith leis an\u00a0 tiomantas thuas luaite, m\u00e1 dh\u00e9anann t\u00fa gear\u00e1n:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Rachaidh muid I dteagmh\u00e1il leat taobh istigh de 3 l\u00e1 oibre.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Scr\u00fad\u00f3idh muid \u00e9 chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir, ag cuimhneach gur f\u00e9adfaidh go bhfuil fadhbanna casta ag baint le roinnt gear\u00e1n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Tar \u00e9is imscr\u00fad\u00fa a dh\u00e9anamh rachaidh muid I dteagmh\u00e1il leat faoi aon dul chun cinn at\u00e1 d\u00e9anta I do ch\u00e1s;<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Cuirfidh muid ar an eolas duit chomh luath agus is f\u00e9idir faoi tortha\u00ed an imscr\u00fadaithe.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Agus gear\u00e1n a dh\u00e9anamh agat:<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Luaigh do ghear\u00e1n chomh soil\u00e9ir agus chomh gonta agus is f\u00e9idir.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Chuimsigh na pr\u00edomhchaipeis\u00ed taca\u00edochta at\u00e1 ag baint le do ghear\u00e1n agus \u00e9 a chuir isteach.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Caithfidh muid le n\u00e1r n-\u00fas\u00e1ideoir\u00ed go proifisi\u00fanta agus go meas\u00fail de r\u00e9ir chaighde\u00e1in ch\u00faram custaim\u00e9ir\u00ed.\u00a0 T\u00e1 s\u00fail againn go gcaithfidh t\u00fa go meas\u00fail le n\u00e1r bhfoireann sa d\u00f3igh c\u00e9anna.\u00a0 M\u00edn\u00edonn an <a href=\"\/app\/uploads\/2017\/09\/FINAL-Unreasonable-actions-policy-23Dec14.pdf\">Polasa\u00ed um Gn\u00edomhartha M\u00edr\u00e9as\u00fanta<\/a> an d\u00f3igh a bhaineann muid le gn\u00edomhartha i gcoinne \u00e1r bhfoireann agus \u00e1r modh oibre.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Mura bhfuil t\u00fa s\u00e1sta le cinneadh an Fhoireann Gear\u00e1n agus Imscrudaithe:<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Mura bhfuil t\u00fa s\u00e1sta le cinneadh an Oifig is f\u00e9idir achomharc a dh\u00e9anamh.\u00a0 Ta an polasa\u00ed maidir le achomharc in aghaidh cinnidh d\u00e9anta don OOL leagtha s\u00edos I Foilseach\u00e1in \/OOL polasaithe agus strait\u00e9is\u00ed\u00a0<a href=\"\/app\/uploads\/2017\/09\/OCOAppealsPolicyandProcedureMay14.pdf\">OOL Polasa\u00ed Achomhairc agus Gn\u00e1is<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Mura bhfuil t\u00fa s\u00e1sta leis \u00e1r seirbh\u00eds:<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Mura bhfuil t\u00fa s\u00e1sta le caighde\u00e1n na seirbh\u00eds\u00ed n\u00f3 a sol\u00e1thar, ba cheart duit aire an duine lena raibh t\u00fa ag teagmh\u00e1il a tharraingt ar.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Mura bhfuil t\u00fa s\u00e1sta leis an freagra a fhaigheann t\u00fa agus is mian leat gear\u00e1n scr\u00edofa a dh\u00e9anamh, is f\u00e9idir scr\u00edobh chuig an Sti\u00farth\u00f3ir: Oifig an Ombudsman do Leana\u00ed, 52-56 Sr\u00e1id an Tr\u00e1 Mh\u00f3r, Baile \u00c1tha Cliath 1. Le tuilleadh eolais ar an pr\u00f3iseas seo f\u00e9ach\u00a0<a href=\"\/app\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Info-for-website-re-procedures-in-relation-to-complaints-agreed-with-NM-210415.pdf\">Gear\u00e1in faoin \u00e1r Sheirbh\u00eds<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Rachaidh muid i dteagmh\u00e1il leat taobh istigh de 3 l\u00e1 oibre, agus d\u00e9anfaidh muid iarracht freagra ioml\u00e1n a thabhairt duit taobh istigh de 10 l\u00e1 oibre.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Comhairli\u00fach\u00e1n agus Aiseolas:<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>T\u00e1 muid tiomanta chun seirbh\u00eds den scoth a chuir ar f\u00e1il agus cuireann muid f\u00e1ilte roimh tuairim\u00ed agus molta\u00ed uait ar an chairt seo agus ar conas I f\u00e9idir linn seirbh\u00eds n\u00edos fearr a chuir ar fail.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>M\u00e1s maith leat tuairim\u00ed no molta\u00ed a thabhairt d\u00fainn scr\u00edobh chuig an Sti\u00farth\u00f3ir, le do thoil, n\u00f3 sheol r\u00edomhphost chuig <a href=\"mailto:oco@oco.ie\">oco@oco.ie<\/a> agus cuir Aiseolas sa teidil.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Tuilleadh eolais:<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nT\u00e1 tuilleadh eolais maidir len\u00e1r seirbh\u00eds\u00ed, \u00e1r bpolasaithe, \u00e1r foilseach\u00e1in agus eolas teagmh\u00e1la ar fail ar an su\u00edomh seo.\r\n<h2><strong>Conas buaileadh linn:<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nT\u00e1 na sonra\u00ed teagmh\u00e1la go l\u00e9ir le f\u00e1il ar an su\u00edomh ghr\u00e9as\u00e1in\u00a0<a href=\"\/contact-us\">Contact us<\/a>."],"irishSecondaryTitle":["Leagtar amach sa Chairt seo na caighde\u00e1in a bhfuil de chusp\u00f3ir againn a shol\u00e1thar do dhaoine a dh\u00e9anann teagmh\u00e1il linn."],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_oembed_1b45382eb59d9eca04309fffdacefb0f":["<iframe title=\"Child Talks 2018 speakers\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KQDYaLXL9us?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_1b45382eb59d9eca04309fffdacefb0f":["1661429159"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_type":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_topic":["32"],"_oembed_b8f2392dc139fb291b0697804444e5bc":["<iframe width=\"1383\" height=\"778\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KQDYaLXL9us?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_b8f2392dc139fb291b0697804444e5bc":["1542650726"],"_oembed_46d2e27e1375b32e9fbce4367af27a4c":["<iframe title=\"Child Talks 2018 speakers\" width=\"735\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KQDYaLXL9us?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_46d2e27e1375b32e9fbce4367af27a4c":["1661429146"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["5"],"_oembed_4ecf95fde951619313b43739377e646d":["}"],"_wpml_word_count":["1148"],"_secondary_title":["Dr Niall Muldoon is the Ombudsman for Children. Niall&#039;s job is to make sure that children in Ireland are being treated fairly. He investigates complaints and promotes children&#039;s rights."],"_sbi_oembed_done_checking":["1"],"documents":["1"],"_documents":["field_59fb03b22f9da"],"_test":["field_59fb0b41b23cb"],"_wp_old_slug":["digital-age-consent-realistic-young-peoples-internet-usage-ombudsman-children"],"_oembed_6ace1830e6ba23982b145267d3682b55":["}"],"_oembed_a51642d75d5969f7f918602849054847":["}"],"_oembed_7e9572ebfedabe41c1186f4cfc38f091":["}"],"_oembed_6fb1c31bbd65dbda38930881ea7136b5":["}"],"_oembed_272011f157ba60776856997c240f1dd8":["}"],"_oembed_adc7995b7ff46d06c76caafd6e3980ea":["}"],"_oembed_35fd1455b378a60a3731ccc5c1f30cf5":["}"],"_oembed_736fe2a1e14a769bbdaf166061319427":["}"],"_oembed_29eb3419ba1cec48bae55ec184726106":["}"],"_oembed_61eb44c9a460d4d5f14be155c437d611":["}"],"_oembed_cab371da55533ef73462480810b5065b":["}"],"_oembed_7fda81b594dedc16e61508ee1f7b8e0f":["}"],"_wp_old_date":["2018-04-05","2026-06-05"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["Art work and messages to Ireland from children living in Direct Provision."],"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":["The Ombudsman for Children's Office World Children's Day Child Talks"],"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":["49"],"_oembed_1f1bd4053502237c1a91c84fac5571c0":["<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"sedIG9kZaX\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/library\/ombudsman-for-childrens-office-publishes-second-irish-language-scheme-2020-2023\/\">Ombudsman for Children&#8217;s Office publishes second Irish Language Scheme 2020-2023<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; 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