James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

Often, Ministers send in somebody else to deal with issues of importance, and I take Adjournment matters seriously and as being important to my constituents.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to discuss this important matter, namely the need for the Minister for Social Protection to resolve the impasse on the carer's allowance which is, it appears, being deliberately withheld in certain cases to meet cost-cutting targets through a broadening of the eligibility parameters set for those who provide full-time care and have done so for a number of years.

While I do not want to point the finger at anyone in the administrative side of the Department as they merely follow orders, it appears to me that people who have given up a large part of their lives to look after elderly or infirm relatives, neighbours or friends are being very shabbily treated. These selfless workers, who perform a valuable service for the community and the State by saving the cost of residential care or home nursing, fail to get reasonable acknowledgement for their work. They are victims of cutbacks or deliberate stalling when it comes to payments.

I read an interesting comment, which sums up the feeling of the ever-increasing number of those who for no discernible reason have been refused a carer's allowance, and that comment is that the recession demands nothing less. Added to that could be the comment that the Government is a hard taskmaster when it is clawing back the money it squandered.

We still have a health sector that is top heavy. The excess layers remain, and will remain, untouched. They are the ones the system protects, the ones who have a strong union presence behind them. Not so the carers of this country; there is no protection for them.

At present, an estimated 350,000 people provide paid or unpaid care to those who are unable to care for themselves. A Central Statistics Office report on carers published in July this year shows that 8% of those over 15 in this country are providing unpaid care to dependent, disabled or chronically ill people. This percentage has risen from 4.9%, or 161,000, in 2006.

Interestingly, a Social Welfare Appeals Office report highlights that of the 25,963 appeals registered in 2009, 48% were decided in favour of the appellant. This figure would indicate a lack of reasonable criteria being issued to front line staff or, worse still, a deliberate policy of refusal and delay.

This worrying trend was recently highlighted by the Carers Association when addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Claims that would have been passed two years ago are now being refused. The basis of these refusals is the health of the people receiving care, even if their doctor has signed off on their ill-health.

It is particularly worrying that those coming off carer's benefit are being rejected for the allowance. Carer's benefit is paid for up to two years to people who leave the workforce to care for a person full-time but what happens then? If they are refused carer's allowance do they leave the person they are looking after without care or do they continue the care unpaid? This is hardly practical.

I am puzzled as to how the payment of a couple of hundred euro a week to a relative, friend or neighbour who is prepared to put his or her life on hold to look after an elderly parent or other person is not considered cost effective or efficient. Irish people returning from abroad to look after elderly relatives are being refused a carer's allowance because of the habitual residency condition. This is ridiculous and must be reviewed.

With 4% taken from carers in last December's budget, it is frightening to think what a Government in hock to the tune of €50 billion to Irish banks will cut from the entitlements of the elderly and vulnerable and their carers in the forthcoming budget. I urge the Minister to look at the broader picture and balance care for the carers with short-term gain for the Exchequer at the cost of fairness and transparency. I would welcome a favourable reply from the Minister this evening. When I see him here, I hope it is with good news.

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