Against a backdrop of policy shifts, Ukrainian refugee children embrace their Irish life
Ireland is the place they started school, joined sports clubs – yet their parents worry about how changes to citizenship eligibility may haunt their future.
“It's extremely disappointing to hear once again that the children have been left short, and it's disappointing given the incredible work that the youth workers in the country do for us.”
Some of the other residents in the complex just off Hill Street – and a neighbouring one – complain about the noise of the playing children.
A spokesperson for Ireland’s Ombudsman for Children said it is “very concerned” that the best-interests principle was not referenced in the new policy.
Dublin City Council is partnering with Voice Ireland on the project, which aims to help reduce the mountain of disposable nappies that are helping fill the country's bins.
Children who live in homes run by private companies and charities are not included in the HIQA consultation because HIQA doesn’t inspect those services.
"Space for kids, just like affordable housing and culture, should be a fundamental part of Dublin’s planning."
Design changes could improve the situation, an engineer says. But RSA statistics show the main danger to cyclists of all ages is people driving cars.
Over the years, the idea’s got support from councillors, TDs, the Minister for Transport – but there’s still no simple, official way to do it in Dublin city.
Vandalism to playgrounds is a problem across the city. Ideas to tackle it include providing alternative spaces for teens, designed and built with them.
So they can go play with their families and friends without adding to “the traffic and our own carbon footprint”, says Róisín Walsh.
Although Mthokozisi Ncube has a birth certificate saying he is 16 years old, Tusla does not believe he is a minor.
“This book is exciting because they keep having new mysteries to solve and there are a lot of surprises – and it is funny!” writes our seven-year-old reviewer.