Abstract
Informal provision of care by family members is one of the foundations of
care provision in Ireland. The unstated assumption amongst policy makers
and service providers is that this care is provided by adults. This however
overlooks hidden young carers - young people under the age of eighteen
years who carry out extensive, ongoing and often onerous caring
responsibilities for family members. These hidden young carers and their
experiences during and after caring are the focus of this research.
Using a small sample of current and former young carers from Cork city and
county, the study identifies the nature of the caring responsibilities they have
undertaken and the significant and often adverse impact this has on various
aspects of their lives. Service providers consulted in the second phase of
the research reported a low level of knowledge or understanding of hidden
young carers. This highlights the importance of greater recognition at the
level of policy formulation, and appropriately structured responses to their
needs at the level of service provision.