Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward the motion. We heard from previous speakers about the people who care for others. It is personal but there is the knock-on effect of poverty, mental health issues and so on. I am going to concentrate on the good work that carers do, in particular on an amazing and successful story that I raised in the House a number of months ago.

One woman cared for her daughter for more than 20 years. She never received a brown penny because her husband was earning too much. The lady had to walk that young girl more than 5 miles twice each day in order that she would sleep. She worked in the organisation as a carer as well. She broke her hip and then had to buy a bicycle and cycle it every day while minding her child. It was only after I raised the issue in the Chamber that I found out that in cases such as that, there are caseworkers within the Department who deal with people on a one-to-one basis. Thankfully, after a number of weeks, I met the lady in my town. She thanked me and told me that it was the first time life that she had a bank account. These are the kind of stories we hear. It is important to recognise all the carers. Caring is a vocation.

I had another case involving a lady with stage 4 cancer who had additional hours sanctioned. However, the hours could no be availed of. In the meantime, incontinence pants were being rationed. It is absolutely ludicrous that this happens to the most vulnerable and those who need the most help. Carers are locked in a situation. As previous speakers mentioned, some of these people have never claimed any benefits. I have dealt with cases where mums in particular have cared for their own children for 20 or 25 years and never claimed because they did not even know that they could do so.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this matter. Things have to be done right, and these carers have to be respected and paid properly.

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