Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will. I refer to a particular point in the motion tabled by the Technical Group. I commend it to the Minister. Perhaps he will discuss it with the Cabinet. It is the need to put in place transitional arrangements to facilitate people who are long-term carers and who, due to the death of a loved one, wish to return to work or education.

In my mother's case, she cared for my father for so long that when he passed away she was at a loose end and did not know what to do with herself. In addition to trying to deal with the grief of losing a husband, there were no supports in place to help her through that difficult period. She was caring for somebody for 24 hours each day, seven days a week, and had a house full of people calling to visit, as well as public health nurses and people from Marymount Hospice and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association calling to see my father to give him the supports he required. When he passed away she found herself living alone, with an unbelievable sense of grief. She is now seeking to do something more with her life, but there is little opportunity for her to do so. She and thousands of other carers have saved the State hundreds of millions of euro through the service they provided for their loved ones. Unfortunately, however, when the loved ones die, those individuals are left to one side. They get no thanks, although they are not looking for any. However, the least they could get from the Government is the support to help them to integrate back into society. It should give them support to enable them to access education or training, or provide some form of support to enable them to get over that grief.

The Minister is sitting there but he is not really paying any attention.

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