Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

I thank our spokesperson, Deputy Penrose, for bringing the issue of the neglect of carers to the attention of the House and to that of the Government and the Minister, who appear to have forgotten about such people. This motion presents the Government with an opportunity to demonstrate that the new caring image unveiled by Fianna Fáil at Inchydoney is a reality and not just an image.

On my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, I thank the thousands of carers in the State who selflessly dedicate their lives to caring for loved ones who otherwise would have no option but to move into full-time institutional care. This commitment by carers is total and requires their dedication seven days per week in every week of the year. Carers are tired listening to Ministers thanking them for their wonderful service while refusing to assist them financially with the burdens they carry.

Accepting the motion would give the Government a chance to change its ways. We are now a rich country with the Government awash with the public's money. It is estimated that to remove the means test for the carer's allowance would cost approximately €180 per year, which represents peanuts in the present day context. Such a minimal commitment would greatly enhance the possibility of old and disabled citizens remaining in dignity in their own homes and would also lighten the load carried by their carers. We can easily afford the cost. As Deputy Penrose mentioned, the House today passed a motion relating to regulations to dedicate €550 million to greyhounds and racehorses. It is a matter of priorities and the "caring" Government gives a higher priority to racehorses and greyhounds than to carers and those for whom they care.

If the elderly and disabled are to be enabled to continue to live in dignity in their homes and communities it is essential that basic and essential services are provided for them at home. An excellent system of advice and grants existed until recently to address these needs. The disabled person's grant provided up to 90% of the cost of providing ground-floor toilets and showers, mechanical stair lifts, wheelchair access, heating, special bedrooms etc. These grants, which were administered by the local authorities, were widely used to very good effect. They allowed the elderly and disabled to continue to use their own homes and gave them a dignity and independence that was their due.

However, these grants have now effectively been cancelled. In County Kildare the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government provided funding of €1.05 million for 2004. However, a further €4 million was required to clear the backlog of grant payments. Kildare County Council had no option but to stop accepting applications and to slow down processing the backlog. Those who are aware of the bureaucratic system will know how this is done. For example, it now takes ten months to get an examination by an occupational therapist in County Kildare, and we have no shortage of occupational therapists. The elderly and disabled, and their carers in County Kildare, as elsewhere, must try to manage without the most basic facilities, toilets and showers. Many will not be able to remain at home and will be forced into institutional care at huge cost to the State and to the old and disabled who will be forced out of their homes with all that means.

I call on the Minister to provide the funding to clear the backlog for disabled person's grants and to allow them to restart with new cases immediately. I also urge the Minister to place these grants for aiding the disabled on a statutory basis so that they cannot be withdrawn at the whim of a county manager or a Minister. The disabled person's grant did a good job, gave value for money, enhanced the life of the elderly and disabled and must be restored forthwith. If this is a caring Government it will be done, but we will see.

I return to the main theme of the motion, which is that means testing for the carer's allowance should be removed. Deputy Penrose has put the case more eloquently than I ever could. If Labour is in Government after the next general election, as is our intention, we will remove the means test from carers. This is how we will show our gratitude to the tens of thousands of carers.

See this speech in context