David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

We will all be interested in getting involved in the debate. I will ask the Minister to focus on young carers, to whom he alluded very briefly in his response. Does he agree with research carried out by Barnardos in 2004 stating that there are up to 3,000 young carers caring for various degrees of time, some as much as 14 hours per week, but more than 200 carers caring on a full-time basis? Does he agree that this can affect the young person's future prospects and lead to feelings of sadness and isolation, and create difficulties in making friends, for example?

Does the Minister know of or intend to commission research into this area and the impact of caring on young carers' lives? Has any research been carried out by the Government into this area? Is he aware of research carried out by Dearden and Becker in 2002, which stated: "Where support services and family income are adequate, children will not usually adopt a caring role"? Does the Minister agree that this is a significant problem for many families, young people and children and that it has, until now, been largely ignored by the Government?

Is it true that carers who are younger than 18 years of age are not eligible to receive carers allowance? They would not have made enough PRSI payments to receive carers benefit. As an interim measure, will the Minister examine the prospect of reducing the age restriction for carers allowance to allow some of these carers to get something for their work? Does he agree this hidden problem needs urgent attention and that it is not enough to just talk about giving help and advice without giving major support? What help and advice are they getting? Until now, it appears that they have not got very much.

Is the Minister aware that young carers are losing out on education in many instances? They cannot go to school or, if they can, they are worried about the persons at home who need care and who they are leaving behind. They must take time off from school, leave early and so on. Up to 3,000 people are involved to some degree, a possible 200 full time and 300 for almost half of their time.

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