800 under 4s act as unpaid carers

More than 800 children under the age of four are acting as unpaid family carers due to chronic long-term State service gaps.

The shocking situation is reported in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs’ latest State of the Nation’s Children Report, which highlights the reality of growing up in Ireland.

According to the 260- page document, available at irishexaminer.com, 6,449 children and teens aged up to 17 are classed as providing unpaid care for their family.