Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
439. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 492 of 28 May 2026, whether she will commit to establishing a longitudinal outcome tracker for care-experienced young adults covering housing, education, employment, mental health and addiction; and the expected publication date of outputs from the Care Experiences Programme. [50670/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2022 the Department launched a research and data programme, Care Experiences: Journeys Through the Irish Care System, which is being run in close collaboration with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla.
The Care Experiences Programme comprises a combination of primary research and administrative data analysis to examine and better understand the lives of children and young people in care and aftercare and adults who were in care as children.
As part of the Programme the Department has commissioned two studies which specifically look at the experiences and outcomes of those who have left the care system. One study has undertaken research with care leavers and stakeholders to explore the educational and career journeys of young care leavers. A second study is looking at the experiences and outcomes of adults who left the care system ten to fifteen years ago. Reports from these studies will be finalised and published shortly.
The Care Experiences Programme also involves the establishment of a national longitudinal study following young people as they transition out of care and into adulthood. Planning is underway for the study.
In addition to the Care Experiences Programme, the Department works with the Central Statistics Office, Tusla, and other relevant Departments on the Educational Attendance, Attainment and Other Outcomes of Children in Care Frontier Series. This Frontiers Series provides insights in relation to outcomes of children in care and children who left care since April 2018 and compares them with all children and young people in the same age group by analysing school, further and higher education, and employment outcomes for both groups. The 2025 release is based on administrative data provided to the CSO from Tusla, the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Social Protection, SOLAS, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, POBAL, the State Examinations Commission, Student Universal Support Ireland and the Revenue Commissioners.
