The Children\u2019s Rights Alliance Report Card 2024 shows that the State is failing to deliver on key child welfare commitments contained in the Programme for Government, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.<\/p>\n
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on children, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe report card, published today, offers a bleak assessment of the Government\u2019s performance in a number of areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to children\u2019s mental health, the Government has been awarded a derisory E grade. This reflects the continued practice of admitting children to adult psychiatric units and the worrying rise in waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) \u2013 which currently stands at around 4,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to the report, an E grade is unacceptable and is due to the Government taking steps in the wrong direction, with no positive impact on children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government didn\u2019t do much better in the family homelessness category, just managing to scrape a D- grade. This is against the backdrop of almost 4,000 children living in homeless emergency accommodation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is deeply concerning as we know the serious damage that homelessness can have on a child\u2019s mental and physical health, as well as their development.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, Government efforts to end direct provision only received a D grade. The report said that increased pressure on International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) and the war in Ukraine have resulted in a deterioration of standards for children and young people seeking asylum.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Taoiseach has previously stated that he wants Ireland to be the best country in Europe to be a child. However, the Children\u2019s Rights Alliance report shows that the Government still has a considerable distance left to travel before such an aspiration can be achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n
February 20, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Children\u2019s Rights Alliance Report Card 2024 shows that the State is failing to deliver on key child welfare commitments contained in the Programme for Government, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on children, said: \u201cThe report card, published today, offers a bleak assessment of the Government\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[268,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jennifer-whitmore","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n