Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his reply and I acknowledge that he has made some movement on the report on carers by the Oireachtas joint committee. However, this is like a chicken in a trough, picking up an odd piece of oats, or like taking any crumbs that fall from the rich man's table.

Carers save the State €2 billion. That is incontrovertible. Nevertheless we claim credit for throwing them an extra €25 or €30. That is pickings from the rich man's table. It is time we implemented the carers' strategy. The Minister's predecessor ruled it out, but we have seen a few caring bones in the current Minister. It is time he accepted the carers' needs assessment Bill which we brought to this House.

We talk of crossing the Border and of equality of treatment, but if the Bill is good enough to put on a statutory basis in Northern Ireland, why is it not good enough for this State where 150,000 carers work on the cheap for the minimum wage? That is what we give them. We treat them with disdain and do not give them the recognition their work deserves. We underestimate the physical and emotional demands of caring for a relative or friend who is ill or disabled. We hear all about this on radio programmes at our clinics.

The Minister has made some advances but it is time to do more, to do what the Labour Party has demanded: abolish the means test, simplify the system, acknowledge the role of carers in this society, and acknowledge that they each save the State €600 or €700 per week by caring very well for people in their homes. The Minister must acknowledge that people want to stay in their home environment where possible. Let us give €200 to anyone who is at home looking after such people.

We have identified those caring for 15 hours per week or more. The Minister has set the parameters for the respite care grant. He has laid the foundation. Now, it is simple to identify the people giving that number of hours. Now is the time to tell them that society has hitherto let them down, to ask them to forgive us our trespasses and failings, and to promise them some small share in the wealth of this country.

I am sure some of the frequenters of the Galway races tent would like to salve their consciences by ensuring those who are less well off, who spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year except for a little respite care, which is minimal, have access to their drippings of wealth to care for people who have saved this country many billions. Meanwhile, many other people flee this country to save money and tax while carers are at home, saving the country many billions. It is time we recognised them.

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