Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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727. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update with regard to the implementation and advancement of the recommendations outlined in the Study of Young Carers in the Irish Population; his views on developing a national framework of supports and policy guidelines for young carers in the education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33456/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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"The Study of Young Carers in the Irish Population”, published by the then Department of Health and Children in 2010, highlights the importance of creating a better understanding of children as carers in Ireland. It found that it is very difficult to identify young carers in the population.

In order to learn more about children that undertake caring roles, my Department requested the Central Statistics Office to include a question in the Census of Population 2011. People of all ages were asked whether they provide any unpaid personal help for a friend or family member with a long term-term illness, health problem or disability. The Census of Population 2011 found that 6,449 children provided regular unpaid personal help for a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problems or disability. Overall, 5.6 per 1,000 children provided regular unpaid personal help for a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problem or disability. Rates ranged from 4.3 per 1,000 in Co. Louth to 8.2 per 1000 in Co. Leitrim. It is further planned, under the National Strategy for Research and Data on Children’s Lives (2011-2016) that an analysis will be carried out, of those children who reported in the 2011 Census that they undertook caring roles. This analysis will be published before the end of 2014 and, when published, will be examined to see how it can help inform future policy as to how best to address the support needs of children and young people who undertake caring roles.

The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency is developing national guidelines as a practical support for schools in the preparation of School Attendance Strategies as outlined in Section 22 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. The guidelines will assist schools to implement effective measures to support children at risk of poor attendance and participation, including those with caring responsibilities. It is anticipated that the guidelines will be completed before the beginning of the 2015/16 academic year.

The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency is in the process of refining and implementing a new strategic approach to service delivery through the integrated working of its three service strands. In working to deliver an integrated model of service it has committed to the principle of “One Child, One Team, One Plan”. This new model of service will provide an enhanced response to the needs of children, families and schools.