News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Referrals to Tusla increased to more than 96,600 in 2024

Tusla's social workers dealt with 96,666 child protection and welfare referrals last year which was a 5% increase on referrals in 2023.

Ireland • 09 Jul

The Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon says homelessness affects every aspect of children's lives (Stock image)

Ombudsman to call for child homelessness strategy

The impact of homelessness and unstable living conditions on children is catastrophic, the Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon will tell the Oireachtas Committee on Housing.

Ireland • 24 Jun

The sandbox project will establish a first-of-its-kind mechanism to advance child online safety through collaboration across sectors, borders and generations

ISPCC joins project to tackle online child sexual abuse

The ISPCC has announced its participation in a global project to prevent and respond to online child sexual exploitation and abuse

Business • 06 Jun

Number of children feeling low doubles over 25 years

Fewer Irish children are reporting high life satisfaction and feeling happy with their lives, compared to a study measuring the same indicators among their counterparts in 1998.

Ireland • 03 Jun

A newly formed committee has called on the public to share their views on the matter through an online survey

Survey to help form child maintenance guidelines

A public survey has been launched to help inform the development of guidelines regarding the payment of child maintenance.

Ireland • 07 Apr

'Teaching very young children about personal finance can really plant those early seeds for financial success' - David Malone, CEO ILCU

How to prepare children for good personal finance habits

"It's never too young to start" - that's the advice from the CEO of the Irish League of Credit Unions David Malone when it comes to learning about the value of money.

Business • 23 Mar

New report from Barnardos says 63% of children heard about AI from social media

Majority of children learn about AI from social media

Children's charity Barnardos is calling on the Government to ensure the school curriculum includes practical lessons on understanding artificial intelligence (AI).

Work and Technology • 15 Oct 24

The report said those experiencing low income or material deprivation are less engaged in civic participation

230,000 children experiencing material deprivation - ESRI

Around 230,000 children are currently estimated to experience material deprivation, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Ireland • 05 Sep 24

Representatives of CARI said its core budget from Tusla had dropped by 55% since 2021 (Stock image)

Funding shortfall could force closure - CARI

Children At Risk Ireland, the support service for child victims for sexual abuse and their families, has said it will be forced to close its doors unless it is provided with immediate funding from the Government.

Ireland • 15 Nov 23

GPs welcome the extension but warn that Ireland needs more staff to deal with the extra workload

Free GP care extended to children aged six and seven

Parents and guardians of children aged six and seven can register for free GP visit cards from today as the scheme extends to around 78,000 children.

Ireland • 11 Aug 23

The immediate and independent regulation of CAMHS has been recommended

CAMHS: Inspector can't give assurances on safe care

An independent review of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the State has said it cannot currently provide an assurance to all parents or guardians in all parts of Ireland, that their children have access to a safe, effective and evidence-based service.

Ireland • 26 Jul 23

Placements with Orchard Fostering Service are commissioned by Tusla

Foster provider promotes children's rights - HIQA

A report published by the Health Information and Quality Authority into an independent private provider of foster care, has found that children's rights there were now being promoted at every level of the service.

Ireland • 29 Jun 23

The research found multiple cases where girls, some as young as 12, were being exploited by older men (Stock image)

Warning gangs targeting children in State care - study

A new study has sounded a warning about the targeting and sexual exploitation of children and teenagers in the care of the State by co-ordinated gangs.

Ireland • 22 Jun 23

Barnardos is calling on the Government to consider running a pilot hot school meals scheme during this year's summer break (Stock image)

Barnardos calls for hot school meals during holidays

Children's charity Barnardos is calling for the expansion of the hot school meals programme to include holiday periods.

Ireland • 24 May 23

The Children's Residential and Aftercare Voluntary Association said there are inequities in the funding they receive and the cost of providing their services (Stock image)

Calls for State funding to save children's care system

Organisations working with and looking after children in care say that poor funding and planning is putting the care system at risk of collapse.

Ireland • 17 May 23

A State delegation will appear before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, later today (File pic)

Ireland 'comes up short' on children's services - IHREC

Current waiting lists and access to services for children are not appropriate to where Ireland is as a nation, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has said.

Ireland • 25 Jan 23

TG4 to launch new Irish language children's channel

Irish language broadcaster TG4 is to launch a new television channel for children next year called Cúla 4.

Ireland • 28 Sep 22

The report states the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, has no alternative but to place some children in care in ad hoc settings, supported by care staff

Children with complex needs placed in hotels - report

Children with complex needs are being placed in care in holiday homes and hotel rooms due to a lack of available options, according to a report published today.

Ireland • 27 Jul 22

Children living in consistent poverty are very aware of their situation, according to the Children's Rights Alliance

62,000 children in Ireland 'live in consistent poverty'

The Chief Executive of the Children's Rights Alliance has said that around 62,000 children in Ireland live in consistent poverty.

Ireland • 13 Jul 22

Childcare costs vary from county-to-county - often significantly - while costs here fare poorly against almost every other European country

How childcare costs stack up across Ireland, and Europe

Childcare is often referred to as a second mortgage for families; Adam Maguire takes a look at how the cost stacks up across the country and how it compares to the rest of Europe.

Business • 10 Jul 22

Children saw much disruption during the pandemic

Children damaged by pandemic, says Ombudsman

There was a 79% increase in the number of complaints to the Ombudsman for Children's Office in 2021.

Ireland • 17 May 22

The watch comes in two colours - green and blue

Review: Vodafone Neo Kids Smartwatch

Smartwatches designed for children with built in tracking and communication tools are one way to give independent kids a slightly longer leash while also keeping an eye on them. The Neo is the latest offering from Vodafone that does just that.

Business • 06 Nov 21

The research followed children over time and analysed data on physical punishment and a range of different outcomes

Physical punishment of children 'not effective'

Physically punishing children is not effective in improving their behaviour and instead increases behavioural difficulties, researchers suggest.

World • 29 Jun 21

Almost half of all complaints (46%) received by the Ombudsman for Children last year related to education

Ombudsman says 2020 was a devastating year for children

The Ombudsman for Children has expressed concern about incidents of possible abuse of children that may have been missed, or gone undetected, as a result of the pandemic.

Children • 16 Jun 21

Survey finds significant decrease in children aged between ten and 17 smoking

Study shows drop in children smoking, drinking

New research has shown a significant decrease in the number of children smoking and drinking over a 20-year period to 2018.

Ireland • 08 Mar 21