The Children's Rights Alliance (CRA) has expressed major concern over the pace of child and family homelessness, when matched against the construction of social housing.
The Government has been issued a 'D' grade for its commitment to housing and homelessness in the CRA's first annual report card since the coalition took office.
The report card tracks and grades the Government on its commitments to children in the Programme for Government.
It received a 'D' grade for its efforts on housing and homelessness according to the CRA, because it fell short of its year one target, building 9,089 social new homes compared to the average annual goal of 12,000.
The scale of the problem requires a cross-departmental approach to homelessness prevention according to the alliance.
International protection accommodation, which had 9,831 children in the system as of January (the majority in emergency accommodation centres) also secured a 'D' grade.
Compared to the previous government, the grades awarded to the current coalition this year have improved. No 'E' or 'F' grades have been issued this year, for example.
For four consecutive years, the previous government received an 'E' grade over the continued admission of children to adult psychiatric units.
A commitment was given to end the practice, but the latest CRA report card does not delve deeply into the issue.
Instead, it notes a commitment in the Programme for Government to enhance mental health services for those up to 25 years of age and create smoother transitions from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to adult services.
It awarded a 'D' in this regard.
Although waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health services are at an all-time high, it awarded the Government a 'C' grade for efforts to resource CAMHS to reduce those lists.
At the other end of the table, Report Card 2026 scored the Government one B - for "positive progress" in efforts to establish improved cooperation between state agencies working in child protection.
A number of Cs were awarded including for reform of the Senior Cycle (C+), the development of better protections for children online (C+), and investment for developing State childcare facilities (C).
Chief Executive of the Children's Rights Alliance Tanya Ward said big ticket promises heard throughout the election like reducing the cost of childcare, tackling the housing and homelessness crisis, and improving access to health care services, have yet to materialise.
She said children were still waiting for meaningful change on issues that they "perpetually feel the negative impact of, such as mental health, homelessness, harmful online content, and access to timely, appropriate supports".
