Report finds Ireland breaching rights of homeless children

Homeless children in Ireland are being placed in emergency accommodation in violation of international law, a new report has found.

Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Ireland’s special rapporteur on child protection, focussed on housing rights, cyber protection and the operation of the child protection system in his ninth annual report for the Oireachtas.

The report was welcomed by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC).

Grainia Long, chief executive of the ISPCC, said: “Child protection issues arising from the housing crisis, cyber safety and the failure to hear the voice of the child in the justice system are all areas of immediate concern for the ISPCC.

“The number of children who are experiencing homelessness is still increasing at a very worrying rate, we still have no national strategy for cyber protection for children in Ireland and we are not protecting children sufficiently in our schools and courts.

“The ISPCC has long recommended that children should be placed in emergency accommodation for a short time only, and that this is not a permanent response to homelessness.

“The Special Rapporteur has stated that this temporary solution is in breach of international law, something the ISPCC has believed for quite some time. We need to remove it as an option permanently, by giving all homeless children the right to suitable temporary accommodation, advice and assistance.

“We would like to thank the Dr Geoffrey Shannon Special Rapporteur for these important recommendations. Government now needs to act on them. Urgent action on child homelessness is required, it is essential that we better protect our children online and the voice of the child must be heard in the justice system.

“It’s important that this report raises these issues. It provides further evidence of concerns we are already aware of. It’s now time to act.”