3,000 young carers get no formal help from State, say Fine Gael

THE Government has been urged to do more to help Ireland’s young carers.

Fine Gael social and family affairs spokesperson David Stanton said yesterday that around 3,000 of Ireland’s 150,000 carers are aged 15-17 and receive no formal assistance from the State.

Research due to be published later this year by University College Cork and Combat Poverty shows that children as young as 12 regularly miss school because of their caring obligation.