State not doing enough to protect vulnerable children: Ombudsman

The State is not doing enough to protect vulnerable children, according to the latest annual report from the Ombudsman for Children.

The report says complaints about the state's education services accounted for nearly half of all reports made to the Ombudsman last year.

These included complaints about support for children with special needs, as well as education policies and school transport.

Elsewhere, more than one-quarter of complaints related to the area of health

A total of 742 complaints were received in 2007, up 40% on the figure for 2006.

The report says additional burdens are being placed on already stressed families and the Children's Ombudsman says the State is falling short of its duty to protect vulnerable children.