Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Thursday 30 November 2023 Dublin: 3°C

# Children

Last month
October 2023
'Don't dress your pets up' and other helpful advice heading into Halloween night
Most pets have much more sensitive hearing than humans, so are particularly vulnerable to fireworks.
'History will not judge us well': Children unsafe in Direct Provision, Ombudsman warns
Progress on improving conditions in Direct Provision has “stalled or regressed” in recent years, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office has said.
Progress on improving conditions in Direct Provision has "stalled or regressed", the Ombudsman for Children’s Office says
The OCO wants children in DP to receive vulnerability assessments, Órla Ryan reports
"Hotels and B&Bs are not suitable places for children to grow up," the new report notes
The plan to end Direct Provision by next year is being revised - what's next for the system?
Lack of regulation in mental health sector 'wouldn't happen in any other walk of life'
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are not properly regulated, the Oireachtas Health Committee has heard.
A cut of twenty-five per cent in average creche costs announced for September 2024
Talks on the measure went down to the wire but a 25% cut to match last year’s has been confirmed.
Parenting: When we were growing up, our parents weren't bombarded by images of perfection
Margaret Lynch looks at the effects influencers are having on her personally and her style of parenting.
Going to bed hungry: Parents are ‘doing without’ food as cost-of-living crisis hits
A report by
Cormac Fitzgerald
After years of steady declining, food poverty in Ireland has shot up.
Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are not getting enough nutritious food to eat
The Muslim Sisters of Éire are distributing hundreds of meals a week in Dublin City Centre alone
Experts tell investigative platform Noteworthy that more State action is urgently needed
HSE boss apologises to children and parents impacted by spinal surgeries crisis
Gloster said the reports about the use of unauthorised springs in operations on children are “most concerning”.
September
September 2023
Eoghan Cleary: The new sex ed curriculum is being misrepresented by a small but loud group
The teacher challenges certain beliefs about the new sex education curriculum and outlines why they are inaccurate. 
Taoiseach, Health Minister to meet with families impacted by spinal surgery crisis
Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil that he will begin meetings with families and patient advocacy groups on Wednesday.
O'Gorman doubles down on need for fee freeze as childcare providers protest at Leinster House
Childcare providers say they are at risk of closure due to increased costs.
Parenting: 'We can't block technology for our kids - that ship has sailed'
Margaret Lynch looks at the government’s backing of schools wishing to ban smartphones and wonders if it’s a red herring.
Eamon Ryan says school exam system 'not serving our purposes'
Secondary school in Ireland is too exam-focused and needs to be broadened, the Green Party leader insisted.
Substitute teacher: 'I lived abroad and came home, but teaching in Ireland has been a disaster'
One young teacher who worked in the UK has now moved back home says he’s had enough of the struggle to live in Ireland.
Parenting: 'I've realised that to raise resilient kids I need to practice what I preach'
Margaret Lynch looked at the tricks for building resilience in her children and found that communication is key.
One in four primary school children report being cyber-bullied in the past year
Over a quarter (26%) of the 5,000 children surveyed had seen or experienced something online in the last year that “bothered” them.
Children with disabilities spending months in inappropriate settings due to lack of supports
A new report says the “failure of the State” has resulted in children being denied the opportunity to grow up at home with their families.
This year
2023
Opinion: Is it time to ban smart phones in schools?
Dr Catherine Conlon looks at the evidence and arguments for and against an outright ban of smartphones in schools.
Children aged six and seven can be registered for free GP care from today
It follows an agreement between the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation last month.
Varadkar: 'There are a lot of good things about being a child in Ireland, but huge deficits too'
In the last two weeks, two significant reports have highlighted serious failings in the care for children in the state.
Dr Niall Muldoon: We need radical and brave leadership to turn around child mental health services
The Ombudsman for Children says it is now clear that we’ve reached the end of the line with the current CAMHS service.
Opinion: The state’s failure of vulnerable children is unfortunately nothing new
Seána Glennon says the state must refocus its approach to the protection of vulnerable children and adults in this country after years of failures.
Pandemic had no impact on the 'vast majority' of 13-year-olds' transition to secondary school
Just under 100% of 13-year-olds agreed that they had made new friends in second-level education.
Children's Hospital contractor 'needs to step up' and deliver project on time, says minister
The contractor is pushing out the handover date from March to May 2024, says the minister.
Bluebell baby monitors 'no longer safe' as regulator issues recall
It is believed that there is a risk of children not being monitored correctly.
Children's Hospital Board rejects claim operating theatre fault could cost 'tens of millions'
The matter is expected to be raised in the Dáil later today.
11 of the hospital's 22 operating theatres will require works to address a problem identified last year.
A TD suggested the issue could cause delays and cost tens of millions, but the hospital board has refuted those claims.
The matter is the most recent controversy for a project that has repeatedly come to public attention.
Taoiseach tours National Children's Hospital as construction reaches 80% completion
Inflation and Ukraine fallout pose fresh hurdles for children's hospital as structure takes shape
Parenting: 'The mental load of June is real - I'll be spending it in a state of disarray'
Mum Margaret Lynch is looking forward to the summer holidays because the mental load right now is unreal.
Budget 2024 will include social welfare payment increases, says minister
The Taoiseach confirmed yesterday that a pension increase is on the cards for Budget 2024.
Parent: 'When she can’t figure something out for homework, we head into nuclear meltdown'
Mum Margaret Lynch looks at the debate around homework and asks if it really is serving everyone involved.
'Unacceptable': Dentists hit out at lack of public service care for children amid staffing crisis
Two-thirds of job vacancies in the sector remain unfilled, the IDA says.
'It's a win for transparency': HSE release list of disability equipment covered by medical card
A group representing families said the decision to make the list of items public is a relief.
Bohemians unveil new kit to provide support for children of Palestine
The Dublin team’s aim is to raise awareness of human rights violations in the country.
Parents criticise 'contradictory' HSE denials over disability equipment funding
The controversy centres around the HSE’s €6-7 million annual budget for vital equipment for children and adults with disabilities.
Parents and TDs have called for more transparency in how the multi-million euro fund for disability equipment is handled.
Families in Cork and Kerry were finding their appeals for specialised equipment for their children rejected by the HSE, with a lack of funds cited as the reason.
They were repeatedly told that no data was kept on equipment funding, only to learn in recent days that the figures have existed for some time.
CAMHS report raises serious concerns about children on medication not getting follow-up care
Some children and adolescents seeking mental health treatment are not getting appointments for up to two years, a new report has found.
Some children and adolescents seeking mental health treatment are not getting appointments for up to two years, Órla Ryan reports
In one catchment area, there were 140 "lost" cases where young people didn't receive follow-up care
Dr Susan Finnerty decided to produce an interim report due to "the serious concerns and consequent risks for some patients"
Report into Kerry CAMHS services 'shocking', says Taoiseach as nationwide audit ordered
Grooming children into a life of crime to carry penalty of five years in prison under new law
Minister for Justice Simon Harris will today seek Cabinet approval for the new Bill.
Number of Ukrainian students enrolled in Irish schools has almost doubled since May
Schools in Dublin, Kerry and Cork have enrolled the most students.
Last year
2022
National bullying database to be set up under new 'landmark' action plan
This is the first time the Department of Education has updated its bullying action plan since 2013.
New scheme to allow councillor appoint temporary substitute while on maternity leave
Currently, female councillors are office-holders rather than employees and are not covered by the statutory framework for maternity leave.
Just over half of nine-year-olds own a phone, up 10% on ten years ago
The report has compared the lives of nine-year-olds in 2007/8 and nine-year-olds in 2017/18.
Minister seeks new location for live Christmas crib after decision to remove it from Mansion House
There cannot be a ‘Scrooge-like agenda’ said Minister Patrick O’Donovan.
'An unimaginable tragedy': Three siblings die after 'violent incident' at house in Tallaght
A man in his 20s has been arrested.
Three siblings were removed from the scene by ambulance and later pronounced dead
Gardaí remain at the scene which has been sealed off for an investigation
A man in his early 20s has been arrested, Órla Ryan reports