The effect that the economic downturn has had on children in Ireland is to be looked at more closely.

Plans to measure this impact will include the lives of young people born in the boom years being compared with those born during the recession - and it is hoped the government will continue to fund such research in the future, the Irish Independent reports.

James Williams of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said he would like to see the Growing Up in Ireland study - which is based on a nationwide sample of 20,000 children, in addition to teachers, families and carers - continue to get the financing it requires. 

Mr Williams noted this funding is necessary in order for there to be a better understanding of how the lives of young people have been affected in periods of economic uncertainty and to see how they are coping through such times.

One finding of the Growing Up in Ireland research has been that students at urban disadvantaged schools have achieved lower reading and maths scores compared to those at other schools. 

Written by Donal Walsh

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