Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While there was a great deal of money in the budget this year, it failed people with disabilities, their families and carers. The Government failed the 1,752 carers in County Laois and the 2,182 carers in County Offaly. Those are just the people in receipt of payments and, of course, there are thousands who do not get payments. Many of those are struggling to secure respite care and people are fighting to secure home care packages for the elderly. Waiting times are getting longer, and there is a shortage of home care assistants for young people with disabilities.

I bring to the attention of the Minister of State that where younger people with disabilities - by that, I mean people aged under 65 - need full-time residential care, places cannot be found. What is happening is that when they go for respite, families are sometimes forced to leave them there because that is the only way they can force the HSE and the authorities to find residential places for them. It is not satisfactory that this has to be done.

It does not make financial sense for the Government not to properly fund carers as it costs the State to pay for long-term care and for nursing homes. People living with disabilities and their carers in Laois and Offaly must have their voices heard and those elected to represent them, like myself, need to stand up and ensure the services are properly funded. The Government has the money to sort this out. I heard the Minister for Finance on radio this morning when I was stuck in a traffic jam on my way to Dublin. He was outlining budget surpluses and projected budget surpluses. While I know that we have to be careful with public money, we have the money to sort this out. Surely it is the bare minimum that, as a State, we can look after the most vulnerable citizens, in particular people who are disabled, the elderly and carers, many of whom are facing burnout.

The State’s carers must have their invaluable work recognised. Carers in Laois, Offaly and across the country deserve much better but, instead, many of them feel abandoned and constantly let down by successive Governments. They need to see much more substantial support put in place. This includes assessments of need, therapy supports, personal assistants, home care assistants and more respite places. It is also vital to improve access to day-care and community services. The Government must also address the issue of the means test for carer’s allowance and disability allowance. Financial supports for people with disabilities and their carers are inadequate and they fail the minimum essential standard-of-living tests. We must ensure they are looked after in the next budget.

See this speech in context