Thousands of infants miss early health screenings under new Irish rules
A 2022 shift to a prioritization system left roughly 7,700 babies without mandatory developmental checks last year, a watchdog report states.
By Nadia Khalil ·
Ireland’s children’s rights watchdog reported that thousands of infants are missing mandatory public health screenings. The Ombudsman for Children’s Office found that the state failed to deliver universal development checks for children under six. This gap has raised the risk that health and behavioral needs go unaddressed.
The issue stems from system changes implemented in 2022. These updates replaced universal access with a prioritization model across five of the six national health regions. According to the report, the shift has made it harder for public health nurses to reach all eligible children.
Data on the scale of the problem remains incomplete. The Ombudsman noted a lack of comprehensive records, which obscures the national picture. However, figures provided by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill in January 2026 offer a baseline. Those numbers indicate that 14.2 percent of children did not receive their nine to 11 month assessments within the recommended timeframe the previous year.
With approximately 54,000 births registered in 2025, that percentage equates to about 7,700 babies. Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children, stated that the situation varies by location. He identified specific blackspots in different areas where the shortfall is more pronounced.
Families have contacted the office over the years regarding the impact of missed checks. They expressed worry about long-term developmental consequences and access to future support services. The report also highlighted that children in emergency accommodation and the International Protection system face particular risks due to transient living arrangements.
Muldoon described the early years of life as essential for development. He emphasized that universal checks by public health nurses are a critical component of that period. The office issued four recommendations to the Health Service Executive to improve access. These include creating a plan under the National Healthy Childhood Programme and making special arrangements for children in temporary housing.
The recommendations also call for strengthening the child protection role of public health nurses. The office urged the development of a national data system to monitor these services. The HSE has accepted the findings. It committed to establishing a national oversight group to implement the proposed changes.
