#Childrens Health

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Young girl eating hot school dinner uk
Almost 20% of hot school meals in primary schools go uneaten each day, survey finds
Close to a third of students felt they should also have the option of a cold lunch

Wed, 21 Oct, 2026

Rotunda Hospital row
Construction on €1.86bn National Maternity Hospital to begin in January, minister says
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says the Government is considering daily parking limits while defending the hospital’s construction budget

Wed, 21 Oct, 2026

New referral pathway could see babies in Cork showing signs of cerebral palsy assessed faster
New referral pathway could see babies in Cork showing signs of cerebral palsy assessed faster
A planned expansion of the programme to all health regions across Ireland is expected by the end of 2027

Tue, 20 Oct, 2026

MSPs debate child care plans
Childcare is infrastructure — and we need to start treating it that way
Childcare is one barrier to women’s participation in the workforce, but it rarely exists in isolation, writes Deirdre Mortell

Tue, 20 Oct, 2026

CYBERSAFE KIDS
No time restrictions on online activity for over third of children aged 8-12
Findings of survey from CyberSafeKids published to launch CyberBreak 2026, a nationwide 24-hour digital detox initiative

Fri, 16 Oct, 2026

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson court case
Jeffrey Donaldson to be sentenced today for sexual abuse of two women when they were children
Former DUP leader will be sentenced at Newry Crown Court for offences he committed between 1985 and 2008

Thu, 15 Oct, 2026

Waterford family's deaths in fire 'due to a €20k drug debt’
Waterford family's deaths in fire 'due to a €20k drug debt’
One of Philip English's sons stated that the fire bombing was due to a drug debt as gardaí said their investigation is 'intense in nature and very active'

Thu, 15 Oct, 2026

Whey protein powder in a measuring cup on a wooden background
Teenagers don't need protein powders or drinks, says food safety watchdog
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland also advised four to five servings per day from the milk, yogurt and cheese food group to meet calcium requirements

Mon, 12 Oct, 2026

Palestine cannot wait any longer for international action on Israel 
Palestine cannot wait any longer for international action on Israel 
Israel has killed some 74,000 people in Gaza, including more than 1,400 during a so-called ceasefire, writes Action Aid Ireland chief Karol Balfe

Tue, 06 Oct, 2026

Depressed teenager on his phone in the dark.
Online groups luring young, vulnerable people into violence for its own sake, summit to hear
There will be a two-day summit on online child safety being hosted by Meta in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

Child abuse concept, silhouette of child confined in a dark room, prisoner or child abduction, child abuse human trafficking.
Children in care targeted by sexual history applications despite rape shield laws
Children in care are among those most likely to face applications seeking to introduce evidence about their sexual history in sex offence trials, despite laws designed to prevent such questioning

Mon, 05 Oct, 2026

Social media app icons displayed on Apple iPhone
Global action needed to protect young people from digital media perils, researchers suggest
The three-paper series, published in the Lancet, includes a major analysis of reviews comprising nine million people under the age of 25.

Sun, 04 Oct, 2026

Depressed crying little boy holding head in hands
Elaine Loughlin: Ireland has a cost-of-living crisis. But the gap between those living it is getting wider
As Budget 2027 approaches, stark differences in household spending raise questions about who really needs State support

Sat, 03 Oct, 2026

Depressed crying little boy holding head in hands
Tusla losing special care staff faster than it can recruit
The child and family agency says special care remains one of the most difficult areas to recruit and retain staff, leaving services well below required levels

Thu, 01 Oct, 2026

Cork father waiting two years for autistic son to access Camhs services among those to attend protest 
Cork father waiting two years for autistic son to access Camhs services among those to attend protest 
Families travelled from around Ireland to support the Every Child Matters campaign outside the Dáil

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

A family of Caucasians at the playground. Winter weekend getaway. Young woman with a baby boy 5 years old.
Finland's childcare is state-run, cheap, and plentiful — why can't Ireland do it?
We feel incredibly privileged to have this excellent system for our kids, and the thought of having to go back to Ireland to try and navigate the system there was a major factor in us choosing to stay in Finland, says Dan Nickström

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

Government urged to establish private CHI investigation
Government urged to establish private CHI investigation
One of its recommendations is the examination of spinal surgery, including who in CHI knew about the plan to implant springs into some children

Mon, 28 Sep, 2026

HSE Temple Street spinal surgery review
Commission of investigation into spina bifida and scoliosis care could become 'farcical exercise', advocates warn
The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group said it is “deeply concerned” after they and other advocacy groups were briefed on the results of a scoping exercise, which is due to be published today.

Mon, 28 Sep, 2026

HSE Temple Street spinal surgery review
Inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis care could begin within six months
Labour health spokesperson Marie Sherlock says delays to existing reviews could hold up answers about what went wrong at Children’s Health Ireland

Sat, 26 Sep, 2026

HSE Temple Street spinal surgery review
CHI spinal surgery review still incomplete three years after concerns were raised
A review into spinal surgery concerns at Children’s Health Ireland was initially expected to take one year, but remains ongoing

Sat, 26 Sep, 2026

Irish schoolchildren deserve the sort of food others are eating
Irish schoolchildren deserve the sort of food others are eating
We should be proud that every child has the chance to be fed in Irish schools each day, but the universality of our school meals programme is being eroded

Fri, 25 Sep, 2026

Hospital corridor with gurneys
Children as young as 13 being referred to UK hospital suffering from ‘ketamine bladder’
County’s first such clinic, at Alder Hey in Liverpool, treating children suffering from chronic bladder problems with severe cases needing dialysis

Wed, 23 Sep, 2026

Hospital corridor with gurneys
Martha’s rule to be expanded to every A&E in England
The system is named after Martha Mills, 13, who died in 2021 from sepsis after a bicycle accident. 

Tue, 22 Sep, 2026

Revamp of free school meals programme to include cold lunch option
Revamp of free school meals programme to include cold lunch option
Changes to the scheme will see different portion size meals offered to children based on their age

Mon, 21 Sep, 2026

'People in power...are living in the '50s in their head': Calls for publicly-funded childcare
'People in power...are living in the '50s in their head': Calls for publicly-funded childcare
Gráinne Ní Aodha talks to women who believe the private-led model of childcare has left parts of rural Ireland in the lurch as they are not densely populated enough for operators to be financially viable

Mon, 21 Sep, 2026

Physically Abused Child At Home Sitting On Sofa
Irish Examiner view: Time to focus on children's eating disorders
Eating disorders are now the biggest single category of psychiatric diagnosis among children admitted to hospital

Mon, 21 Sep, 2026

Young girl relax with her smartphone on a sofa
Snapchat 'like a haven for paedophiles': Tusla developing social media policy for children in care
Child Law Project cites a judge who said the accused in a recent case described Snapchat as ‘like a haven for paedophiles’

Sun, 20 Sep, 2026

Reading is Fun!
Childcare cost is a barrier to having children in rural Ireland – survey
In the 2026 Rural Ireland Thinks survey, 63% of respondents said the cost of childcare is an impediment to having children — up from 55% in 2024 when the survey was last taken

Sun, 20 Sep, 2026

Vaccination Queue
Ancient smallpox DNA found in Chile reveals new clues about how the deadly virus reached the Americas
Ancient viral fragments from Chile provide new clues about smallpox’s arrival in the Americas and its evolution into a human-only virus

Sat, 19 Sep, 2026

Unhappy teenage girl measuring waist in mirror
Parents in 'dire straits' over lack of services for children with eating disorders
Caring About Recovery From Eating Disorders (Cared) Ireland said there are six specialist community-based eating disorder teams for adults and five for children across the country

Fri, 18 Sep, 2026

Sick teenage girl
Child psychiatric units record rise in eating disorder admissions in 2025
Figures also show an increase in child admissions for depressive disorders last year

Thu, 17 Sep, 2026

Children with disabilities more likely to miss school
Children with disabilities more likely to miss school
A study by the ESRI and Tusla Education Support Service has found higher levels of school absence among children with disabilities and those experiencing socio-emotional difficulties

Thu, 17 Sep, 2026

Ministers told to 'prioritise and make choices and trade-offs' for Budget 2027
Ministers told to 'prioritise and make choices and trade-offs' for Budget 2027
Public expenditure minister says savings which can be reinvested by departments will need to be found

Wed, 16 Sep, 2026

Girl using her smart phone sitting on couch
Rural Ireland Thinks: Social media restrictions on under 16s supported by vast majority
The Irish Examiner survey results indicate that the Irish public favour restrictions over a ban

Wed, 16 Sep, 2026

A simple, very dark night time image of hands on an illuminated keyboard typing. Shady person wearing a hood at a computer or la
'Ordinary' porn is now a gateway to child sex abuse material
An unintended consequence of pornography and the attention economy — the natural pathway from pornography to child sex abuse material

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Over the shoulder view of a child using a smartphone in a home environment
Child Law Project: Judge questioned Tusla's restrictions on children's access to phones
The judge had said: 'We talk about stranger danger, yet we allow anyone to talk to a child in their bedroom'

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

Sad boy standing alone in the hallway
Child Law Project: Boy was sent to hospital as no suitable social care place was available 
The boy had been in the care system because of inappropriate interaction with his siblings, according to the Child Law Project's latest tranche of reports

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

Homeschooling: Hands of an Unrecognizable Child Drawing While Sitting on her Mother's Lap, Lockdown Activities Concept (Overhead
Childminder says new regulations threaten to squeeze operators out of the system
Department of Children said its new regulations offer safeguards to children and gives quality assurance to parents

Sun, 13 Sep, 2026

No completion date agreed for Ireland’s €2.2bn National Children’s Hospital
No completion date agreed for Ireland’s €2.2bn National Children’s Hospital
The €2.2bn project has now missed 20 deadlines, with about 2,000 defects remaining and compliance issues still being addressed

Sun, 13 Sep, 2026

Programme that brings the circus to halting sites 'giving children the space to be themselves'
S Programme that brings the circus to halting sites 'giving children the space to be themselves'
It’s all part of a new community engagement programme called Sorcán and Circus which was developed by Traveller musician and screenwriter Willzee (William Casey), in conjunction with the Irish Aerial Creation Centre, writes Sarah Horgan

Sat, 12 Sep, 2026

Budget expected to include funds for shingles vaccine, but no change for Drugs Payment Scheme
Budget expected to include funds for shingles vaccine, but no change for Drugs Payment Scheme
Meanwhile, the Government is considering applying different tax rates to home heating oil and petrol and diesel

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

A child using a laptop.
Social media's 'harmful' designs to hook children also found in online games and AI apps, study finds
The analysis from UK-based 5Rights Foundation looked at TikTok, Threads, WeChat, ChatGPT, Reflectly, Google Gemini, Barbie Horse Ride & Rescue, Monopoly Go! and Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

Lonely sad boy at home
Failing to identify fetal alcohol syndrome has consequences far beyond health system
The lack of action on a pathway for fetal alcohol syndrome is showing in so-called 'difficult' and 'defiant' young people who were never diagnosed 

Wed, 09 Sep, 2026

Denise Charlton: There's a compelling argument for a children's budget
Denise Charlton: There's a compelling argument for a children's budget
Our series of reports show we are in danger of becoming the first generation in modern Ireland to pass on a poorer society to the next

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

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Mick Clifford
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