Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, today joined Barnardos and the Family Support Agency to launch ‘Parenting Positively – Coping with a Parent’s Problem Drug or Alcohol Use’, a new resource for children, teenagers and their parents to support them in understanding and dealing with difficulties that can result from a parent’s problem drug or alcohol use.

Parenting Positively – Coping with a Parent’s Problem Drug or Alcohol Use utilises the expertise of Barnardos childcare professionals with more than 25 years experience on the ground supporting children and families and helping them to deal with the impact of drugs and alcohol on their lives. The resource is the first in Ireland to address this topic and was developed by Barnardos and the Family Support Agency in response to an increasing demand for support materials.

Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald said: “A 2009 study found that one in 11 children in Ireland has been impacted negatively by parental alcohol problems. It is imperative that we support children and families in Ireland to tackle the issue of problem drug and alcohol use. Alcohol is so socially acceptable in Ireland that it can be difficult to recognise a problem. Each and every child is entitled to a safe place to live and to go to school. All children have a right to be treated with dignity and respect.