Lone parent carers of people with intellectual disabilities in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

The National Intellectual Disability Database that operates in the Republic of Irelandis unique in Europe and provides an opportunity to examine trends over time for atotal population in excess of 25 000 people with intellectual disabilities and their carearrangements. This paper describes the changes over a 10-year period in theproportion of children and adults living with lone parent carers and comparisons aredrawn with demographic changes as reflected in the national census of 2001 and2006. Since 1996, the proportion of children and young people under 20 years of agewith intellectual disabilities living with lone parents has doubled: in 2006 nearly onein-five were in lone parent households. These figures are lower than for the generalpopulation although they reflect similar demographic trends. The increase in loneparenting is more marked amongst people who have mild rather than moderate toprofound intellectual disabilities and for those families living outside the GreaterDublin area. The implications for providing equitable and supportive family-centredservices to this population of parent carers are discussed.