Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider expanding the role of the Ombudsman for Children to allow for the Ombudsman to take complaints from those up to age 21 years as her northern counterpart does; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23956/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 defines a "child" as a person under the age of 18 years. The remit of the Ombudsman for Children is defined accordingly. I am aware that the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People also defines a child or young person as a person under the age of 18 but extends that definition to include a person under the age of 21 with a disability within the meaning of their Disability Discrimination Act. The Ombudsman for Children produced a report in March of this year on the operation of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. She made a number of recommendations for legislative change. One such recommendation is that the definition of "child" in section 2 of the 2002 Act should be amended to include young people under the age of 21 who have a disability within the meaning of section 2 of the Equal Status Act 2002 and young people who have left the care of the Health Service.

My Department is current reviewing the Ombudsman for Children's Report with a view to identifying appropriate future changes.