Older and younger generations enjoy a strong bond, with the former providing financial, emotional and housing supports to their adult children during difficult times.

That's according to Changing Generations, a new report which was launched last Wednesday. A total of 100 Irish men and women from the ages of 18 to 102, as well as 20 leaders from the private, public and civil society sectors, were interviewed by researchers from Trinity College and NUIG for the study.

They spoke about issues such as education, unemployment and their views on the government and cutbacks.

It was concluded that there is a very strong sense of solidarity between the generations, with the main findings of the report as follows:

• There is little conflict between the older and younger generations in Ireland.

• Support within families is keeping people afloat during the recession.

• Economic inequality is causing the biggest rift between groups in Ireland.

Irish Country Living spoke to Catherine Conlon from Trinity College's Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), who explains more about the report.

Why was the study carried out?

"In relation to the recession, we wanted to know if people were pulling together across age groups and, if so, how are they doing this. We also wanted to find out if the economic climate was causing division among age groups, as younger people are emigrating and creating holes in communities."

Can you explain how older generations are helping the young?

"There is a lot of resilience in communities and people are very mindful of the pressures people are under. People of different generations are aware of what the other group is going through and are stepping in to alleviate those pressures.

For example, older people who have children and are struggling with the cost of childcare or mortgages are trying to find ways they can step in and help in a sensitive manner. Generations are really pulling together to alleviate the strain of the recession, even families that don't have a lot of money.

Is the nature of employment and work changing from generation to generation?

"It's changing a lot. Employment is becoming much more centred in large urban areas, while work in rural areas seems to be drying up somewhat. People are undertaking commutes that they never thought about before, some of whom built homes on the family farm at a time when there was employment available locally.

"Now they have to commute into cities and are leaving for work very early in the morning, before creches even open. Some grandparents are taking children at 6.30am in the morning and dropping them to the creche, or keeping them for up to 12 hours a day."

How does emigration factor into all of this?

"The study was carried out in the east and the west of Ireland, and emigration came up a lot. In the west, Gemma Carney from the Irish Centre of Social Gerontology in NUIG carried out the research and found that the opportunities people anticipate being there when they finished college are not there anymore. Young people appreciate education, but are coming out of college with degrees and feel that they and their families have been let down."

What kind of views do people have on education?

"There is a real commitment from everyone to education. Older people think the whole focus of society should be to optimise the chances of the younger generation, and investing in education in conjunction with job creation is the only thing to do. Both generations are committed to further study and training, but want assurances that education will translate into a job.

"Young people want to work here. They want their children to grow up with their grandparents. Families want to invest in their children to enhance their life chances, but costs such as travel, books and accommodation can be a make or break for many considering going on to third level education. Where you live shapes your life chances - people in rural areas have additional costs in partaking in education. As for asset testing, students can't ask for an annual bus ticket pass in return for a calf. People need the cash, and assets do not support the costs of education.

Will this report influence government policy in relation to education and recruitment?

"We hope this report will mandate the government to make braver decisions and invest resources wisely. If education and job creation are prioritised, that will translate into productive activity that will benefit society."