84. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department’s plans to increase funding to the Ombudsman for Children, following reports (details supplied) that a lack of adequate resourcing is impacting on the Ombudsman’s ability to carry out their responsibilities; the details of her Department’s engagement with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49954/25]

The Department strongly supports the important work of the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) in examining complaints from or on behalf of children on the actions of public bodies and on promoting the rights of children and young people in Ireland. I am committed to working with the Ombudsman and his Office to ensure it continues making a positive contribution to the lives of children.

The Department’s support for the work of the OCO is evidenced in the significant increases to its budget over the last number of years and the allocations are set out in the table below:

During this period, staffing numbers have increased from 11 in 2015 to 33 currently.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions and the Department is not involved in the operations and decision making of the Office in terms of setting priorities and its findings. The Department engages with the Ombudsman for Children's Office ahead of negotiating a budget allocation with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, to ensure that its funding and expenditure are carried out in line with Government accounting rules and that its governance arrangements comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

Following a submission, the budget allocation for the Office of the Ombudsman for Children is secured by the Department as part of the annual budget and estimates process.

As part of the 2026 budget planning process, the Department commenced engagement with the Ombudsman’s Office in June 2025 asking it to identify its 2026 budget requirements and priorities. As part of the overall Department’s budget requirements, the submission from the Ombudsman’s Office was also considered and elements submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation for consideration as part of the normal budgetary process. The Department continues to engage in negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation on the Department’s 2026 Vote.

In the context of budget 2026, all Departments will be competing for resources to meet commitments set out for them in the Programme for Government against a backdrop of international uncertainties and the risk of global economic shocks. In July 2025, the Government published its Summer Economic Statement which sets out the parameters for total public spending in 2026. The expenditure ceilings noted in this report suggest a maximum current expenditure increase of 6.4%.

The Department has had to make difficult choices in its budgetary allocation each year as there are so many areas that require funding. These include many areas on which the Ombudsman for Children himself has highlighted the importance of adequate funding to ensure that children and vulnerable people get access to the services that they require. Similarly, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children can set its own priorities and allocate its resources to the areas of greatest need.

Officials will engage further with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children in relation to its budget allocation for 2026 once the budget and estimates process is finalised and the budget allocation for the Office for 2026 is determined.