Ending of National Carers' Strategy 'targets most vulnerable'

The Children’s Rights Alliance has today condemned the Government's decision to abandon the National Carers’ Strategy.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs released a statement this evening stating that it will not be publishing the strategy because of the economic situation.

"The Children’s Rights Alliance is gravely disappointed at the Government’s abandonment of the planned National Carers’ Strategy, committed to in the Social Partnership Towards 2016 Agreement and in the Coalition’s Programme for Government," said Children’s Rights Alliance chief executive Jillian van Turnhout.

"Difficult decisions, must, of course, be made - but surely not at the expense of the most vulnerable?

"At least 3,000 children act as carers, here in Ireland, and the planned strategy would have provided them with essential supports and access to services.

"Child carers are already denied the freedom to be a child and this strategy held a glimmer of hope that once and for all we would acknowledge and support these vulnerable children. Child carers take on adult responsibilities on a daily basis.

"Does this mean that we, as a society, are happy to accept that child carers can do without external support; that they do not need home help; that they are not entitled to some respite from their adult responsibilities?

"Established support structures for child carers in Ireland are almost non-existent. Glasgow, a city of just over half a million people, has 22 young carer co-ordinators. Ireland has none."

Child carers are defined as children under the age of 18 years, who are unpaid and the nature and extent of their caring responsibilities has a significant impact on their education, health, social and emotional life and longer-term life chances.