Investment in childhood education must remain a central priority in any programme for government negotiations, writes Grainne McKenna

On this, the United Nations’ (UN) World Day of Social Justice, it is imperative that we take action to tackle poverty, social and economic exclusion and unemployment.

The forthcoming general election is an opportunity to highlight the failings of our psychiatric services, such as bed and staff shortages and waiting lists, says Paul Gilligan

A new report has found that bed wetting, nightmares, difficulties sleeping and emotional turmoil are issues affecting refugee children who fled to Ireland from war-torn Syria.

Two Irish charities that deal with vulnerable children and families have each seen a marked increase in demands for their services over the past year.

An undercover investigation had revealed a pattern of disturbing behaviour and practices including fire-safety breaches and rough handling of children.

Childcare should be a public service for children, not somewhere to “warehouse them” while their parents are at work, the head of the Children’s Rights Alliance has urged.

Children as young as nine have contacted a new legal helpline run by the Children’s Rights Alliance.

Undocumented children and young people in Ireland are growing up facing an uncertain future.

The number of reports of suspected abuse of children living in emergency accommodation peaked around Christmas and New Year, according to new figures.

There were 86 admissions of children to adult psychiatric units in 2017, a jump of 28% on the previous year.

Facebook and other social media giants could be hit with fines “large enough to hit the profit of the company” for breaching online safety guidelines, the Taoiseach has warned.

A damning investigation into the State’s child protection agency Tusla has identified 65 cases where the group failed to protect children who are at “potential risk” of abuse.

Two-thirds of people believe parents should be financially supported to stay at home with their child for the first 12 months of its life.

Is childhood a thing of the past? Seems so, when the Children’s Rights Alliance is in favour of the Government’s decision to set the so-called digital age of consent at “the lowest age possible” which in this case is 13 years.

Society must respond to risks of online child abuse, say groups.

In the wake of the 2012 vote to include the 31st Amendment to the Constitution, Tanya Ward asks what else we should be doing to prioritise children’s rights in our society.

Children’s rights groups have marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of the children’s referendum by claiming there is still some distance to go before the rights enshrined in the Constitution are fully vindicated.

A new national advocacy strategy for children with a parent in prison is needed so their lives are not negatively impacted in the longer term, according to a number of leading support organisations.

If you are a parent of one of the 30,000 girls who will be offered the vaccine in September, you are right to inform yourself, but do so from trusted scientific sources, writes Alison O’Connor.

Senior barristers have demanded the Legal Aid Board immediately reverse a decision that would impact on family law cases, including the possibility of adding to already lengthy waiting lists.

One in four parents will be forced to deny their children basic school items in September.

A woman and her children forced to sleep on blood-stained mattresses in cramped rooms after leaving an abusive partner had a “horrible” experience, said Women’s Aid.

Children whose parents drink to excess, along with children who are homeless and others who are victims of crime are not being looked after by this Government, say children’s rights groups.

The latest report card on the Government’s performance regarding children shows it to be a struggling student, writes Noel Baker.

Tanya Ward says it is in the best interests of all children for Britain to stay within an EU-wide common child protection system.