Young carers, who are looking after family members, have told politicians they need more help from the State in order to continue providing voluntary support.
A number of young carers aged between 10 and 20 met TDs and senators in Leinster House today as part of a campaign led by Family Carers Ireland, and before a Labour Party Dáil motion on the issue this evening.
The group said more than 67,000 young carers are currently providing often unseen help to family members across Ireland, in addition to trying to continue their own lives and education.
Among the issues leading to the need for the support are illness, disability, mental health issues and addiction, with research by Family Carers Ireland showing that four out of five young carers are at "clinical risk of depression" and one in two "struggling to cope".
Speaking to RTÉ News after meeting TDs and senators, brother and sister Benjamin Buday and Sarah Ann Buday called for more help from the State.
12-year-old Benjamin, from Tuam in Galway, said he and his 15-year-old sister Sarah Ann are carers alongside their family for their four-year-old sister Esther who has Down syndrome, immune condition Graves' disease and an AVSD heart defect.
"I'd say we need more help. Physical help. Medications. It's really hard for us to help and teach her everything," he said.
Sarah Ann agreed, saying there is a need for extra supports, including in school when you "can't meet the deadline [for a project] because you've been in hospital two nights in a row".
Strain on families
20-year-old Conor Curran also spoke with politicians, saying he also cares for his younger brother alongside his parents in addition to travelling from Waterford City to University of Limerick for his college course.
Conor said his brother, who has just turned 18, has 22q11 deletion syndrome - a condition which causes developmental difficulties.
As such, he said more supports are needed.
"It's fairly stressful to be in college and caring at the same time.
"Monday to Friday I am up in the University of Limerick, but on the weekend I'm home Friday evening, I look after my brother for a bit, my other brother goes off to do stuff, my parents get a weekend away.
"It's just medication, keep him fed, making sure he's happy.
"In terms of support it's more at the college level, it's just time, you end up having to rush home.
"I know on my course you have mandatory labs and sessions you have to attend them, and if something happens I'm missing them, I'd have to re-sit the year, that's both money and time.
"I am very close to my brother, but there has been moments in the past, when my brother was born I ended up being raised by my grandparents for two or three years, and the age of two to five you need to have your parents there, and they weren't there, so I did feel somewhat distant.
"Now the relationship is all better, we're all a lovely happy loving family, but there are moments where I'm sitting here going 'why this family, what did I do for this'.
"But I've grown up, I've realised there's nothing that could have happened, and I'm happy where I am, obviously things could always be better but I'm happy," he said.
67,000 young carers impacted
Family Carers Ireland spokesperson Catherine Cox said the reason for the meeting, and for Labour's spokesperson on social protection, children, disability and equality Mark Wall raising the issue in a Dáil motion this evening, is to highlight the difficulties more than 67,000 young carers are facing across Ireland.
"Adolescence is already a challenging time, but for young carers, the added responsibility of caring for a loved one can take a serious toll.
"Balancing school, friendships, and personal development alongside caring impacts their mental and physical wellbeing, while also limiting their education and future career opportunities without proper support.
"Young carers should not have to choose between caring for a loved one and securing their own future. The Government must act now - young carers cannot continue to be overlooked, undervalued, and unsupported," she said.
