Across Ireland, thousands of grandparents are doing something quietly extraordinary — raising their grandchildren full-time. Whether because of parental illness, addiction, bereavement, or family crisis, these grandparents step in when children need stability most. It is an act of profound love, but it is also one that comes with significant practical, legal, and emotional challenges.
If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild — or know someone who is — this guide walks through the supports available in Ireland today, the legal landscape, and how to look after yourself while caring for the next generation.
TL;DR
- An estimated 4,500+ children in Ireland are in kinship care arrangements, many placed with grandparents by Tusla or through informal family agreements
- Formal kinship foster care (through Tusla) provides financial allowances, social worker support, and access to aftercare — informal arrangements may leave grandparents without these supports
- The Child and Family Relationships Act 2015 and the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 provide legal pathways for grandparents to secure guardianship or custody
- Kinship carers face unique health risks including fatigue, social isolation, and delayed attention to their own medical needs — self-care is essential, not optional
- Organisations like Kinship Care Ireland, Tusla, and Citizens Information can help grandparents navigate financial supports, legal rights, and community connections
What Is Kinship Care?
Kinship care refers to a child being raised by a relative — most commonly a grandparent — rather than their birth parents. In Ireland, kinship care can be either formal (arranged through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency) or informal (a private family arrangement without state involvement).
According to Tusla data, over 30% of children in state care are placed with relatives, and grandparents make up the largest group of kinship carers. However, a significant number of grandparents care for grandchildren informally, meaning they may not appear in official statistics and may miss out on vital supports.
The distinction matters. Formal kinship foster carers receive a foster care allowance (currently €350 per week per child under 12, and €400 for those aged 12–17), social worker support, and access to training. Informal carers often receive none of these, relying instead on general social welfare payments.
Why Grandparents Step In
The reasons are varied and often painful. Parental substance misuse, mental health difficulties, domestic violence, imprisonment, emigration, or bereavement can all lead to grandparents becoming the primary carers. In some cases, a parent’s sudden illness or death leaves no alternative. In others, grandparents gradually take on more responsibility until they are, in effect, the child’s main caregiver.
Whatever the circumstances, the transition is rarely straightforward. Grandparents may find themselves navigating a complex web of family dynamics, grief, and bureaucracy — all while managing their own health needs.
Legal Pathways in Ireland
Understanding your legal position is one of the most important steps a kinship carer can take. In Ireland, several legal options exist:
Guardianship
Under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (as amended by the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015), a grandparent can apply to the courts for guardianship of a grandchild. This gives you the legal right to make decisions about the child’s education, medical treatment, and welfare. You can apply if you have been caring for the child for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
Custody
Custody is different from guardianship — it refers to the day-to-day care and control of the child. A grandparent can apply for custody under Section 11 of the Guardianship of Infants Act. The court’s primary concern is always the best interests of the child.
Tusla Formal Kinship Care
If Tusla is involved, the child may be placed with you as a formal kinship foster carer. This involves Garda vetting, a home assessment, and ongoing social worker supervision. While the process can feel intrusive, it provides structured support and financial assistance.
Citizens Information centres and the Legal Aid Board can help you understand which route is appropriate for your situation. Many grandparents find it helpful to get legal advice early, even if the arrangement feels settled.
Financial Supports Available
Raising a child on a pension or fixed income is challenging. Here are the main financial supports available to kinship carers in Ireland:
- Foster Care Allowance — available to formal kinship foster carers through Tusla (€350/€400 per week depending on the child’s age)
- Child Benefit — payable to whoever the child normally lives with (€140 per month per child in 2026)
- Domiciliary Care Allowance — if the child has a disability or significant additional needs
- Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance — available to qualifying families
- Working Family Payment — if the grandparent is in employment and income is below a threshold
- Medical Card — children in formal foster care automatically qualify; in informal care, you can apply based on means
If your arrangement is informal, contact your local Community Welfare Officer (through the Department of Social Protection) or Citizens Information to check what supports you may be entitled to. Many grandparents do not realise they can claim Child Benefit simply by having the child living with them.
The Health Impact on Grandparent Carers
Research — including findings from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) — consistently shows that caring responsibilities can have a significant impact on the health of older adults. Kinship carers are no exception.
Common challenges include:
- Physical strain — keeping up with young children is demanding, particularly if you are managing your own health conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, or mobility issues
- Fatigue and sleep disruption — especially with younger children or those with behavioural needs
- Delayed self-care — many grandparent carers put off their own GP appointments, screenings, and medication reviews because the child’s needs come first
- Emotional toll — grief over the family situation, worry about the child’s wellbeing, and anxiety about the future (“What happens to them if something happens to me?”)
- Social isolation — friends the same age may be enjoying retirement while you are doing the school run
If you are a kinship carer, please do not treat your own health as secondary. Keep up with your GP visits, take your medications, attend your screenings. The HSE’s Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme provides structured reviews for common conditions — ask your GP about it if you haven’t already.
Looking After Your Mental Health
The emotional complexity of kinship care is often underestimated. You may be grieving the loss of your planned retirement, dealing with a difficult relationship with your own adult child, or worrying about a grandchild who has experienced trauma.
Here are some practical steps:
- Talk to someone — the ALONE support line (0818 222 024), Seniorline (1800 804 591), and Parentline (1890 927 277) all offer a listening ear
- Ask about counselling — HSE talking therapies are available through GP referral, and some family resource centres offer free or low-cost counselling
- Connect with other kinship carers — organisations like Kinship Care Ireland run support groups where you can meet others in similar situations. Knowing you are not alone makes a real difference
- Accept help — if family, friends, or neighbours offer practical support, take it. You do not have to do everything yourself
Supporting the Child
Children in kinship care may carry their own emotional baggage — loss, confusion, disrupted attachments. While a grandparent’s love provides powerful stability, some children may benefit from additional support:
- Tusla social work teams can arrange therapeutic supports for children in formal care
- School-based supports — talk to the school’s HSCL (Home School Community Liaison) coordinator about any additional supports the child may need
- Barnardos and Jigsaw offer children’s and young people’s counselling services
- Family Resource Centres (funded by Tusla) provide local parenting supports, activities, and advice
It is entirely normal for children in kinship care to have questions about their parents and their situation. Answering honestly and age-appropriately, with reassurance of their security, helps build trust.
Practical Tips From Grandparents Who Have Been There
- Get legal clarity early — even if things feel stable, having legal standing protects both you and the child
- Keep records — maintain a file with the child’s medical records, school reports, and any correspondence with Tusla or social services
- Build a routine — children thrive on predictability, and a structured daily routine benefits your own health too
- Stay connected — join a local Active Retirement group, Men’s Shed, or community group for social contact outside your caring role
- Plan ahead — consider who would care for the grandchild if you became unwell, and discuss this with a solicitor if needed
Where Críonna Health Fits In
At Críonna Health, we believe that grandparents raising grandchildren deserve recognition, practical support, and access to reliable information. Our guides on healthy ageing, mental wellbeing, and Irish resources are written with you in mind — because looking after yourself is the foundation that makes everything else possible.
Key Contacts and Resources
- Tusla — tusla.ie — Child and Family Agency, foster care and kinship care queries
- Citizens Information — citizensinformation.ie — benefits, legal rights, guardianship information
- Legal Aid Board — legalaidboard.ie — free or low-cost legal advice
- ALONE — 0818 222 024 — support and befriending for older people
- Seniorline — 1800 804 591 — confidential listening service for older adults
- Parentline — 1890 927 277 — support for parents and carers
- Barnardos — barnardos.ie — children’s services and family support
- Family Resource Centres — local centres nationwide providing parenting support and activities
📷 Photo by Long Nguyen on Unsplash
