The Role of Grandparents in Childcare in Ireland: Towards a Research Agenda

This paper discusses the role of grandparents in informal childcare in Ireland. It considers how recent demographic change and government policy on childcare have the potential to place greater pressures on the provision of grandparent childcare. It illustrates research literature that has examined...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michelle Share, Liz Kerrins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Social Care Ireland 2009-01-01
Series:Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://arrow.dit.ie/ijass/vol9/iss1/5/
Description
Summary:This paper discusses the role of grandparents in informal childcare in Ireland. It considers how recent demographic change and government policy on childcare have the potential to place greater pressures on the provision of grandparent childcare. It illustrates research literature that has examined the prevalence and intensity of grandparent care, factors influencing such care, and the role and needs of grandparents in childcare. We argue that there are significant gaps in Irish research evidence about the extent of, role and needs of grandparents as childcarers and outline a data and research agenda that builds on previous research in this area.
ISSN:1393-7022