The latest gov.ie update from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality brings fresh attention to one of Ireland’s most important social policy areas: the lives of children in care and young adults transitioning out of it. Through the Care Experiences Programme, gov.ie has published new research that sheds light on foster carer retention, aftercare outcomes, and the education and career journeys of care-experienced young people in Ireland.
gov.ie publications put care experience research in focus
Published under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, these new gov.ie materials form part of a wider evidence base designed to support policy, services, and public understanding. The Care Experiences Programme combines primary research with administrative data analysis to better understand the experiences of children and young people in care, adults who previously lived in care, and those using aftercare supports.
The latest gov.ie publication set includes:
- Children in Care and Young Adults Leaving Care: A Literature Review of Irish Research by Dr Clare Farrell
- Factors Associated with Foster Carer Retention and Attrition in Ireland
- Webinar recording: Factors Associated with Foster Carer Retention & Attrition in Ireland
- A Study on the Career and Education Journeys of Care-Experienced Young Adults
- Webinar recording: A Study on the Career and Education Journeys of Care-Experienced Young Adults
This work is especially relevant across departments and public bodies involved in Health, Social Protection, Education, Further and Higher Education, and Children/Disability/Equality, as well as service delivery organisations such as the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Tusla.
What the newly published research covers
One major strand of the new gov.ie output examines foster care sustainability in Ireland. The report on foster carer retention and attrition looks at the factors that encourage carers to continue, as well as the pressures that can lead them to leave the system. This is a crucial issue for long-term placement stability and service planning.
The second major report explores the career and education pathways of care-experienced young adults. It looks at how young people leaving care navigate further study, training, employment, and life opportunities after the care system. For policymakers in Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Education, and Social Protection, the findings may help shape more responsive supports.
Why these gov.ie reports matter for Ireland
The value of these gov.ie publications goes beyond academic research. They provide an evidence base that can inform future decisions by government, agencies, and oversight bodies. In practical terms, the findings may support improvements in:
- foster care recruitment and retention strategies
- aftercare planning for young adults
- education access and progression supports
- cross-agency coordination involving Tusla, the HSE, and other public services
- better use of data across the wider Irish public sector, including bodies such as the CSO and departments handling Public Expenditure and Finance
The department also noted that more Care Experiences Programme research is on the way later in 2026. Upcoming outputs include a study by researchers from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Sussex on adults who left the care system 10 to 15 years ago, as well as a literature review on Special (Secure) Care in four jurisdictions outside Ireland.
Key background publication remains available
Also highlighted on gov.ie is the 2023 literature review, Children in Care and Young Adults Leaving Care: A Literature Review of Irish Research. Carried out by the Research and Evaluation Unit of the department, the review focuses on Irish empirical research on the care system, aftercare services, and the lived experiences of those who have left care. It also draws from consultations with children and young people and includes selected international insights for broader context.
Conclusion
These latest gov.ie publications underline a growing commitment to evidence-led policy around care, aftercare, and young adult outcomes in Ireland. For readers following developments across gov.ie, the reports offer a clearer picture of what works, where challenges remain, and how Ireland can better support children in care and those building life after it.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
