Children 'invisible' to public sector

Children too often remain invisible in the eyes of public administrators who make vital decisions affecting the education, care or welfare of young people, according to a report published today by the Ombudsman for Children.

The report, which analyses ten key investigations by the Ombudsman, found evidence of a major “disconnect” between administrators and those affected by decisions.

In addition, decision-makers were too often caught up in the “blind pursuit” of the applying inflexible rules rather than consider the rights and needs of individual children.

The analysis was conducted by Dr Ursula Kilkelly, a law lecturer at University College Cork, on behalf of the Ombudsman for Children’s Office.

The ten cases range from the failure by a local authority to provide housing in the case of a child with a disability; the lack of appropriate care for a child who died in HSE care; and the availability of home tuition for a child with autism.

In general, Dr Kilkelly found that those involved in making decisions about children’s lives were often not aware the needs or rights of children or their families.

There were also key failures to ensure the implementation of national law and policy. In particular, the failure ensure children’s voices are heard as required under the Child Care Act 1991 was of concern, as was the failure to properly implement the Children First guidelines on child protection.

She also found the case for the potential breach of children's rights by administrative bodies under the European Convention on Children's Rights was another worrying development.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan said the analysis provided evidence of the need for public sector reform.

“It illustrates how civil and public administrative decision making impacts on children’s lives,” she said.

“In the context of public sector reform, I believe this analysis can provide significant learning for the civil and public sector and demands of government to pay attention to children and families in the context of such reform.”

While adequate resources were of great importance to guaranteeing that children’s rights are respected, Ms Logan said the attitude and culture that underpin how we engage with and provide for children was more fundamental.

She said a referendum to strengthen children’s rights would play a key role in ensuring public services pay greater heed to considering the needs of children in day-to-day decision-making.