BUDGET constraints forced the Donegal-born Ombudsman for Children to halt regular visits to hear concerns from asylum seekers in direct provision centres.

Correspondence released under Freedom of Information laws, shows Dr Niall Muldoon, a Donegal Town native, said that his office “cannot continue to fulfil our statutory obligations within existing resourcing”, the Irish Times reported.

In 2024, Dr Muldoon requested additional funding from the Department of Children, having warned that his office had to “curtail some of our work due to insufficient resources”.
The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is charged with dealing with complaints made by or for children about the actions of public organisations. It is also tasked with promoting the rights and welfare of children.

In February, Dr Muldoon had told the department that his office had “no choice” since July 2023 but to “suspend our regular complaints outreach visits to direct provision centres due to lack of resources” and could now “only visit centres where serious concerns are reported to us”, the Irish Times reported.

The correspondence outlined how Dr Muldoon was unable to begin the visits to centres accommodating Ukrainian refugees “due to a lack of resources”.
He told of efforts to deliver workshops to children who find his office hard to reach, including many in direct provision and mental health units, were also affected.
Dr Muldoon wrote to the then Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman with his concerns regarding budget allocations.
A spokeswoman for the ombudsman’s office said it has “worked to fully maximise our resources across all of our functions”.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the department said Minister for Children Norma Foley has met with Dr Muldoon in recent weeks.