Ombudsman ‘exasperated’ over repeated warnings on lifelong impact homelessness can have on children

Ombudsman 'exasperated' over repeated warnings on lifelong impact homelessness can have on children

Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you’ve seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

One-off amount

I already contribute

Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.

An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.

Investigates

Investigates

Money Diaries

Daft.ie Property Magazine
Allianz Home Magazine
The 42 Sports Magazine
TG4 Entertainment Magazine
The Journal TV

Climate Crisis

Cost of Living
Road Safety

Newsletters

Temperature Check
Inside the Newsroom
The Journal Investigates

The Explainer

A deep dive into one big news story

Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture

have your say

Or create a free account to join the discussion

Advertisement

More Stories

Alamy Stock Photo

child homelessness

Ombudsman ‘exasperated’ over repeated warnings on lifelong impact homelessness can have on children

Dr Niall Muldoon will appear before the Oireachtas Housing Committee this afternoon.

8.59am, 24 Jun 2025

Share options

THE OMBUDSMAN FOR Children is expected to tell an Oireachtas committee this morning that the impact of homelessness and unstable living conditions on children is “catastrophic”.

Dr Niall Muldoon and other members of the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) will appear before the Oireachtas Housing Committee later this afternoon, alongside the Dublin Region Homelessness Executive and Westmeath County Council.

Muldoon will tell TDs and Senators that it is “exasperating” to have to repeatedly warn of the serious impacts of homelessness on children amid the ongoing housing crisis.

He will say that the OCO has been raising many of the same issues that are impacting children’s lives and preventing them from fully enjoying their lives over the last 20 years, with child homelessness having grown “exponentially” in the last ten years.

“As Ombudsman for Children I have made recommendations, met with Ministers and officials, but still every month the number of children who are living in homeless accommodation continues to grow,” Muldoon will say.

“Housing has been identified by the Taoiseach as the “number one issue” for the current government, and so it should be,” he will tell the committee.

Advertisement

“The trouble is that the seriousness of the housing situation has been known for almost a decade now, and because of its longevity the effects have rippled across all of our society. Children however have borne the biggest brunt of the ongoing crisis and we cannot forget that.”

Muldoon will say that the move away from local authority housing during the economic crash in 2008 has led to a situation now where “we are consistently failing more and more children and families who are falling into homelessness”.

He will highlight the 2019 No Place Like Home report, which featured children’s views and experiences of homelessness and recommended that the Housing Act 1988 be amended to place a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure the best interests of the child is at the centre of decision-making when supporting homeless families.

The report also recommended that capital investment in, and output of social and affordable housing be “significantly increased”.

“These recommendations were reflected in the 2019 report from Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, yet we have seen little or no progress,” Muldoon will say.

He will call for the Government to introduce “bold brave measures” to address “what is a crisis of epic proportions for children in Ireland”.

I know it is not a simple problem to solve but it must be done.

“Until children are considered in their own right, and their specific circumstances addressed, it will be difficult to make significant progress.”

According to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, 4,775 children were among a record 15,580 people living in emergency accommodation in the State in April.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone…

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.

Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Support The Journal

Send Tip or Correction

Embed this post

To embed this post, copy the code below on your site

Email “Ombudsman ‘exasperated’ over repeated warnings on lifelong impact homelessness can have on children”.

Recipient’s Email

Feedback on “Ombudsman ‘exasperated’ over repeated warnings on lifelong impact homelessness can have on children”.

Your Feedback

Your Email (optional)

Report a Comment

Please select the reason for reporting this comment.

Please give full details of the problem with the comment…

child homelessness
Children’s Ombudsman

Homelessness
Ombudsman For Children

News in 60 seconds

Middle East
Trump says ceasefire between Israel and Iran ‘now in effect’

The Morning Lead
Defence chiefs defend handling of ATC crisis as Air Corps still on dramatically reduced hours

Niall O’Connor

Good Morning
The 9 at 9: Tuesday

Man (20s) dies following hit-and-run in north Dublin

57 mins ago

Russian drone attack kills three, including five-year-old child, in northeastern Ukraine

State-backed student accommodation to have twin rooms and shared bathrooms to boost bed capacity

Deportations
US Supreme Court allows third country deportations to resume

US embassy wants ‘every social media username of past five years’ on new visa applications

As it happened
Donald Trump says a ‘total ceasefire’ has been agreed between Israel and Iran

Bride killed and several injured after suspected gang attack on wedding in France

U2’s The Edge among thousands of people to receive Irish citizenship today

more from us

Investigates

Daft.ie Property Magazine

Allianz Home Magazine

The 42 Sports Magazine

TG4 Entertainment Magazine

Money Diaries

The Journal TV

Journal Media

Advertise With Us

About FactCheck

Our Network

FactCheck Knowledge Bank

Terms & Legal Notices

Terms of Use

Cookies & Privacy

Advertising

Competition

more from us

TV Listings

GAA Fixtures

The Video Review

Journal Media

Advertise With Us

Our Network

The Journal

FactCheck Knowledge Bank

Terms & Legal Notices

Terms of Use

Cookies & Privacy

Advertising

Competition

© 2025 Journal Media Ltd

Terms of Use

Cookies & Privacy

Advertising

Competition

Switch to Desktop
Switch to Mobile

The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie

Report an error, omission or problem:

Your Email (optional)

Create Email Alert

Create an email alert based on the current article

Email Address

One email every morning

As soon as new articles come online

Read More…