Ms Allison Metcalfe:

Health Care Assistants and Carers Ireland is a not-for-profit network. We support carers in all sectors. We saw that there was a gap where carers did not have support. It is a place which provides for open dialogue and support for people who would otherwise be isolated. Many of our members are already members of unions, meaning that it is outside our remit. Many of them tell us that they frequently make 30-minute calls. They have to assist an elderly person to get out of bed in the morning and bring him or her downstairs to have breakfast. Naturally, the person needs care - he or she may have mobility issues - and his or her needs need to be met. Carers are extremely stressed because they know that they will only be paid for 30 minutes, but they will be with the person for longer.

We carried out a survey among our group. Some 44% of carers said they were unhappy with their current employment conditions, while 46% felt unsupported by their employer. We believe, from direct feedback, that there are far too many issues with in-home care services. Regulation and everybody singing from the same hymn sheet are definitely needed. The minimum rate is a big issue. We said €11 an hour, but there are many who are only earning €10.