Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend my colleague, Deputy Tully, on her tireless work on this issue and for those with disabilities. Family carers have been held up for a long time as a crucial pillar who save the State billions of euro annually, yet time and again they do not receive the supports they need and that they rightly deserve. For the 500,000 family carers throughout the country who give the State and those they love so much with unpaid hours of care, their asks pale into insignificance compared to the caring the input.

The carers I speak to in counties Longford and Westmeath tell me they are made to feel guilty by needing respite hours knowing they themselves are physically and mentally burning out. They tell me they feel their commitment to the care receiver is being taken advantage of by the State because despite the savings their care results in, their asks are very rarely, if ever, met a timely fashion. They tell me that interaction with the HSE and State agencies is far from a two-way street. Access to residential care has fallen since 2008, failing not only to keep up with population growth but resulting in a shortfall of between 800 and 2,300 places. We know how vital this service is in terms of the temporary break that reduces stress and prevents burnout, as well as tackles the feelings of isolation and loneliness that carers experience. It also benefits those who receive care.

I have to comment on the content of the speech of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. She highlighted the difficulties being faced by the increased number of children and adults who seek access to respite. We have a census. They have been around for a long time. This is an abdication of responsibility and an admittance of the Government's inability to plan. Information on the level of complexity is freely available. It just needs to be acted on. It is not those who are in need of respite who are the cause of this issue. This issue was caused by successive Governments being incapable of planning. It is past time the State not only recognises the value of carers but values them with meaningful support when they need it.

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