Irish Health System: 7,700 babies missed critical developmental checks in 2025

Families in Ireland are facing a gap in state support for young children, as a new investigation shows that thousands of babies missed mandatory health screenings last year. The Ombudsman for Children’s Office reported on Tuesday that approximately 7,700 children did not receive their nine-to-eleven-month developmental assessment within the recommended timeframe in 2025. This figure represents 14.2 per cent of the roughly 54,000 births registered during that period, meaning one child in seven lacked this early medical evaluation.

The issue stems from system changes introduced in 2022 that replaced universal access to developmental checks with a prioritization model. These modifications are currently active in varying degrees across five of the country’s six health regions. The ombudsman’s report states that this shift has increased the risk that developmental, behavioural, emotional, and health needs go unidentified until they become more difficult to address. The agency noted that the lack of complete national data makes it difficult to determine the full scale of the problem, although specific "blackspots" have been identified in different areas.

Certain groups face higher risks due to their living circumstances. The report highlights that children living in emergency accommodation and those within the International Protection system are particularly vulnerable because of the transience of their housing. Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon stated that the first years of life are essential for development. He described the universal child developmental health checks carried out by public health nurses as a critical component of those early years. Muldoon added that the agency believes the current situation has significant implications for children’s rights.

The office has received numerous contacts from families worried about the long-term consequences of missing these checks. Parents expressed concern over how the lack of early identification might affect their children’s access to future services and supports. The report suggests that without timely intervention, potential issues may be harder to manage as the child grows. The ombudsman emphasized that the current system fails to ensure effective delivery of these universal public health development checks for all children under the age of six.

Muldoon made four specific recommendations to the Health Service Executive to improve access. These include creating a plan under the National Healthy Childhood Programme to guarantee all children receive their checks. The report also calls for special arrangements for children in temporary accommodation, a strengthened child protection role for public health nurses, and a new national system for collecting data and monitoring services. The HSE has accepted the findings of the investigation.

The Health Service Executive has committed to setting up a national oversight group to implement the recommendations. This group will work to address the data gaps and ensure the prioritization system functions as intended. The minister for health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, had previously cited the 14.2 per cent statistic in response to a parliamentary question in January 2026. The HSE’s commitment to oversight marks the next step in attempting to restore universal coverage for under-sixes.

The investigation was published by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office on Tuesday. It follows years of feedback from families regarding the impact of missed checks. The report provides a detailed account of how the 2022 system changes have affected service delivery. The findings serve as a basis for the upcoming national oversight group’s work.