Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action he is taking to address the needs of young carers. [27996/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In response to a commitment given in the Towards 2016 partnership agreement, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in 2008 commissioned Dr Allyn Fives and colleagues from the Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Galway, to carry out a study on young carers. The research took place during 2009 and a final draft was presented to the Minister for Health and Children in early 2010. The report was launched by Minister of State, Barry Andrews, T.D. at the annual conference of the Carers Association on 7th May 2010.

The purpose of the study was to examine mechanisms through which young carers in Ireland can be identified, to examine the impact of caring on their lives and to examine ways in which they can be assisted. The Study involved a review of the national and international literature, together with a number of interviews with twenty-six young carers and thirty agency staff.

The findings suggest that while there may be some negative impacts (such as absences from school or distractedness while at school; feelings of social isolation; physical illness; boredom, worry and resentment) there are a range of positive impacts as well. These included greater connectedness to the person cared for; maturity and compassion.

The findings also suggest that young carers need a range of formal and informal support from a variety of services. Examples of those which they received and wanted more of included:

Home help

Respite care

Advice and information

Support from friends and family members

Supports from teachers and school principals

Better treatment for the person with the care need

Help with transport and home renovations.

The particular service areas identified, and the welfare of young carers as children are primarily the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive, as well as the Department of Education and Skills and the National Educational Welfare Board.

The Department of Social Protection provides income supports for adult carers who are unable to work because of their full time caring responsibilities. It does this through the carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant, as well as additional supports such as the household benefits package and free travel. These supports are generally available to full time carers over the age of 18. The respite care grant is available to full time carers over the age of 16.

While the work of a young carer is clearly important in many families, it would not be in the interests of a child attending school that they be treated as a full time carer in need of income supports in their own right.