Children in direct provision need support

Barnardos is delighted to hear the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, has agreed in principle to extend the Ombudsman for Children’s remit so that children living in direct provision can have their concerns raised and independently examined.

It has been a source of concern that asylum- seeking children, living in a system which we know is completely unsuitable for children, have no official avenues open to them in the domestic setting if they need to make a complaint.

While direct provision was envisaged as a short-term living arrangement when it was introduced, we know many children are spending years and years in overcrowded accommodation, living on extremely meagre means and without the facilities most of us would consider essential for a happy and healthy childhood — somewhere to play and feel safe, do homework, have friends round, have culturally appropriate food etc.

As the UN’s top children’s rights experts pointed out last month, and reiterated in their report on Ireland’s children’s rights record, it is an absurd situation when children residing in the Irish State can make a complaint to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, but cannot contact the domestic children’s complaint system.

Barnardos would urge that this extension to the Ombudsman for Children’s remit is progressed as quickly as possible when the Dáil resumes by the Minister and the department.

June Tinsley

Head of Advocacy

Barnardos

Christchurch Square

Dublin