In 2025 the Department of Children, Disability and Equality commissioned CES to conduct a study of the education, employment and training journeys of care experienced young adults in the Republic of Ireland aged 18 to 24.
The report was commissioned under the Care Experiences Programme: Journeys through the Irish Care System, which is led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in close collaboration with Tusla - Child and Family Agency.
In July 2026 the Department published the CES report and executive summary along with a recording of a webinar which presents the research report, all available here.
Previous studies found that even though supports are available, care-experienced young adults (CEYA) face many challenges and generally achieve poorer education and employment outcomes than young adults who are not care experienced.
This study looks at the different journeys CEYA take through education, employment and training (EET), and what helps or makes it harder for them to do well, so that policies and supports can be improved.
Two groups took part in the study:
76 young adults took part through a survey and 14 took part through interviews. 79 service providers took part through a separate survey, and 16 service providers took part through focus groups. The study also examined national aftercare data from Tusla.
In addition, two advisory groups gave the research team advice throughout the study: one with CEYA and one with service providers and policy-makers. They gave advice about how to encourage people to take part in the study, what questions to ask, what the findings could mean and what recommendations could be made to improve policies and supports for CEYA.
Overall, the study shows a mixed picture for CEYA. While engagement in education and training appears to be improving, many CEYA are trying to progress in the context of unstable housing, financial pressures, mental health difficulties and inconsistent support.
A clear message from the findings is that outcomes after age 18 are often shaped by much earlier experiences. Experiences such as care placement stability, school attendance, timely support for additional needs, and positive relationships during childhood and adolescence can have a lasting effect on later EET pathways.
The findings show that journeys through EET are rarely straightforward. Many young people described having experienced disrupted schooling, early school leaving, dropping out of courses, returning later through different education routes, and moving in and out of work alongside study.
Setbacks in their journeys are linked to placement changes, housing instability, bullying, mental health difficulties, undiagnosed additional needs and, for some, immigration-related barriers.
At the same time, CEYA show strong resilience, with many CEYA re-engaging with EET when they had stable relationships, practical help, and flexible routes back into education and training that matched their circumstances.
The findings indicate that some subgroups of CEYA face greater disadvantage. CEYA who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) may be more impacted than their peers in EET by issues such as restrictive eligibility rules for services, inadequate mental health support, limited job-seeking skills, challenging labour market conditions and experiences of stigma or discrimination.
Separated children seeking international protection (SCSIP) can face additional legal, financial and accommodation barriers that make participation in education or work even harder.
At the same time, the study points to what helps:
There is strong overlap in the suggestions made by CEYA and service providers about what needs to change to improve EET outcomes:
There are several takeaways from the findings, which helped to shape the recommendations for policy and practice:
With these takeaways in mind, 53 recommendations are made in the report, for 16 stakeholders, designed to give CEYA earlier, longer-lasting support with a balance of flexibility and consistency across systems affecting their EET.
In welcoming the publication of the report, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley TD, said:
"[It] provide[s] important insights into the experiences of children and young people in care ... The research is particularly timely given the work underway in my Department to develop a new plan for children in the care system.”
I would like to thank the.....care-experienced young people who shared their experiences and perspectives in this important research. Their contributions are essential to helping us strengthen supports, improve outcomes and ensure that children and young people in care have the opportunities they need to reach their full potential."
The Care Experiences Programme: Journeys Through the Irish Care System' was launched by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in 2022 in response to The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (The Ryan Report) (2009) recommendation to implement longitudinal research to follow young people leaving care and transitioning to adulthood.
The CEP, the first programme of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, is being carried out using a combination of primary research and strengthened administrative data analysis. Its aim is to provide evidence on the experiences, challenges and outcomes for children and young people in care, care leavers, and those who are care experienced in order to inform service delivery and policy development.
The CEP is led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, in collaboration with Tusla as a key partner, and is supported by key governance and advisory structures that include cross-Government Department and public body officials, stakeholders and care-experienced adults.
Information on the Care Experience Programme is available at www.gov.ie/CareExperiences
