‘Kinship carers deserve recognition and adequate resourcing’ , says Louth TD

Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan has highlighted the important work that kinship carers do for children.

Earlier this month, Deputy McGreehan met with Minister Dara Calleary and Kinship Care Ireland to discuss the need for greater recognition and support for kinship carers.

Kinship care is the full-time parenting of children by grandparents, older siblings, aunts and uncles, other relatives, or close friends of the family when their parents are no longer able to look after them.

It allows children to remain among family and retain a sense of belonging and acceptance. Kinship Care Ireland represent these families.

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The aim of the meeting was to discuss key challenges kinship carers face, and how we can work together to progress supports for them.

Speaking on the importance of the meeting, Deputy McGreehan said: “The recognition of Kinship Care is crucial.

"It involves many different Departments across Government, including social welfare, and I thank my party colleague Minister Dara Calleary for meeting Kinship Care Ireland.

“During the meeting we discussed the most important issues and challenges that kinship carers face in Ireland, and how we can work to progress supports for these types of families around the country.

“In their Budget 2026 asks they want to address the persistent lack of recognition and inadequate support for kinship families under current child and family policy frameworks,” she said.

Deputy McGreehan concluded by highlighting that it improved support for kinship carers is a commitment in the Programme for Government, and believes it is time for systemic reform.

“It is a key commitment within the Programme for Government to improve supports for kinship carers in Ireland.

"They do vital work and prevent 12,000 children from going into State Care, and this must be recognised."

She added: “I believe the time is right for coordinated, systemic reform.

"The commitment in the Programme for Government, the publication of the Young Ireland National Youth Assembly recommendation and increasing demand voiced by kinship carers across the country backs that logic.

 “This area is a very important area for me as a TD. I will work alongside government colleagues to ensure we deliver for Kinship Carers in Ireland and the vital work they do."