Departmental Reviews

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Ceisteanna (659)

Ken O'Flynn

Ceist:

659. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 439 of 2 July 2026, in which it was stated that reports from the two commissioned studies on the educational, career and life outcomes of care leavers "will be finalised and published shortly," and that planning is "underway" for a national longitudinal study following young people transitioning out of care, to provide a specific publication date, or at minimum a target quarter, for each of the two commissioned studies referenced; the current stage of planning for the national longitudinal study, including whether a research design, funding allocation, or commencement date has yet been set; if so, to provide these details; and if "shortly" refers to a timeframe of weeks, months, or longer, given that the Care Experiences Programme was launched in 2022. [52831/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

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.

A report on the career and education journeys of care experienced young adults, a research project undertaken by the Centre for Effective Services, will be published this month. A separate report on the retention of foster carers undertaken by Childhood Matters will also be published later this month.

A separate study is being undertaken by researchers from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Sussex examining the experiences and outcomes of adults who left the care system ten to fifteen years ago. The report is at the review stage and will be published in Q4 2026.

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. A Steering Group, consisting of representatives from the Department, the Child and Family Agency and the Central Statistics Office, was established in January 2026 to oversee the planning and delivery of the first wave of the longitudinal study. The Department has commenced work on the development of a research needs report for the first wave of the study.

Action 18 of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions commits to the creation of a Children's Fund to honour the memory of the children who died in Mother and Baby Institutions, with the core aim of supporting children experiencing disadvantage in the present day. The Care Experiences Programme is one of the projects allocated funding from the Children's Fund over the period 2024 to 2028. This includes funding for the longitudinal study.