The Minister for Children, James Reilly, will address a national conference on childhood bereavement at Dublin Castle this morning.

 

Entitled "Understanding the frameworks of support" today's conference aims to highlight what bereaved children need most.

 

One of the topics up for discussion will be death in the digital age, and the role social networking sites play in young people’s grief.

 

Orla Keegan, head of education, research and bereavement at the Irish Hospice Foundation, says childhood bereavement can have a lifelong impact.