Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very conscious of the thousands of people who are in need of or receiving care for reasons of age or because they have a physical or mental disability or both. I am also conscious of the thousands of people, the majority of whom are family members, who are providing this care. If all of these carers informed the Health Service Executive and Department of Social Protection that they were no longer willing to care for their loved ones, what would be the effect on the State? I do not believe it would be able to cope with such a scenario as both need and the costs to the State would increase massively. Furthermore, the State could not provide the type of dignified care that is given to those who need it. Such an eventuality would probably result in a return to the old Dickensian type of institution whose end we seek to achieve. Hospitals, which are already under strain, would be severely challenged. From a practical and purely economic point of view, carers are doing the State a major service and I dread to think of the costs and consequences if they decided they would no longer do so.

I acknowledge the first point Deputy John Halligan makes in his motion, namely, that carers make a vital contribution to society and generate major cost savings. The Deputy is doing the State, carers and those receiving care a great service by keeping the issue of care on the agenda. While the budget maintained the basic carer's allowance at its current level, the respite care grant was cut. In many cases, this grant is used not for respite but for basic care.

A close friend of mine has been battling motor neurone disease for five years. I am aware of the level of care provided by the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and local authority. I am also aware of the 24 hour care my friend receives from a family member, for which no amount of money could pay. A carer who is a family member will do much more than other people will do. Let us consider the three potential costs arising from this case. One has 24 hour nursing care, the cost of keeping someone in a nursing home and the cost of the care provided by a family member. It is clear that the latter is not only the most economical approach but is also the type of care that addresses the needs of the person with motor neurone disease who wishes to stay at home. The person to whom I refer availed of the grant scheme, which has had a positive effect in terms of adapting her house. For this reason, I also support that part of the motion.

I am aware of the case of a constituent, an amputee, who lives in a three bedroom local authority house and has been waiting for two and a half years for a grant for a downstairs extension to install a bedroom and shower. As her home is on three storeys, the installation of a stair lift is not feasible. Another constituent has been refused a carer's allowance to look after a 96 year old who wishes to stay at home. One must bear in mind what would be the outcome if the person in question were to move into a nursing home.

Investing in carers is an investment in community care and helps our communities by providing dignified and independent living and contributing to social inclusion. Demand for carers is increasing because people are living longer, including children with birth defects and those with illnesses who are benefiting from medical innovation. This trend will result in an increased need for carers.

The Irish Hospice Foundation and Alzheimer Society of Ireland released a report last Friday. While its primary focus was on palliative care, it also addressed the increasing numbers of people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

The cut in the respite care grant will save the Government €26 million, yet €55 million was found for the greyhound and horse racing industries, both of which are lucrative.

In my short time as a Member of the House, I have felt deeply ashamed on a number of occasions. One such occasion was last summer when it emerged that children with intellectual disabilities would no longer receive services when they reached the age of 18 years. Another such occasion was when I joined people in wheelchairs at an all night protest against the decision to cut their personal assistants' hours. I was also ashamed to read recently about abuse of elderly people in residential care. I hope the Government will publish the standards and new system of inspections for the private and voluntary intellectual disability services sooner rather than later. I urge it to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as this would reaffirm the rights of people with disabilities to be treated as equals. Allied to this issue is care of carers.

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