Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
924. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans underway in his Department to establish a cross-departmental working group on young carers; if this is an area that falls specifically under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12921/23]
View answerA number of Government Departments are engaged in supporting young carers.
The Department of Social Protection provides funding to support Family Carers, which includes the following schemes to support young carers:
- resources that include practical information designed to help in particular teachers and staff in educational settings to identify and support young carers,
- creation of digital resources for disseminating information to educators and young carers, and
- activities which focus on work with schools to support students with caring responsibilities.
The Department of Health published the National Carers Strategy in 2012 and it includes an objective to “Support children and young people with caring responsibilities and protect them from adverse impacts of caring”. The Strategy is currently under review by the Department of Health.
My own Department recognises that young carers face particular challenges and they are recognised as a disadvantaged group which is eligible for targeted supports under the UBU funding scheme.
There is not currently a cross-departmental group on young carers. Officials of my Department have reached out to the relevant Departments to suggest that the establishment of such a group be considered as part of the review of the National Carers Strategy.
