In addition he cites the “shame” of child homelessness, saying “we are tolerating a situation where almost 10,000 people are [homeless], including 3,500 children”. The ombudsman received 1,755 complaints last year, up 4 per cent on 2016 and 7 per cent since 2015. “This highlights a continued failure by public bodies to put the interests of children at the centre of their decisions,” says Dr Muldoon. Direct provisionChildren of asylum seekers in direct provision centres are experiencing poverty, stress, overcrowding and lack of access to cooking facilities, according to the report. For the first time the ombudsman was last year empowered to receive complaints from or on behalf of children in the 27 direct provision centres and three emergency and orientation centres.

Source: The Irish Times June 12, 2018 22:52 UTC