Ombudsman: 22% increase in child complaints

The Children’s Ombudsman dealt with 1,491 complaints last year, a rise of 22% on the previous year.

Emily Logan launched her office’s annual report yesterday, and said some agencies were still using the “stock answer of insufficient resources” as a reason for failing to sufficiently provide for children.

“We continue to see more concern for the system than for the best interest of the child and family,” said Ms Logan, adding that there had been less resistance to the recommendations made by her office in specific cases than had previously been the case.