Laura Harmon (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of young carers. Last week I attended a briefing on this issue organised by Deputy Mark Wall of the Labour Party. I was shocked to learn that, throughout Ireland, 67,000 young carers between the ages of ten and 17 care for family members. It was great to see that, last week, a motion on this issue was passed unanimously in the Dáil.I would welcome further discussion in this House on it as well but there was no mention in the programme for Government of these young carers. They are being left behind. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, the schools are not aware of their situation. They do not have adequate supports in place in their schools. There is no proper respite for them in terms of being able to take days off for themselves. It is affecting their education and their mental health, and we really need to have a young carer grant established as well.