Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister is aware that this is national carers week. It is our annual opportunity to express our profound admiration for the work that carers provide day in, day out. I am sure the Minister will join me in that sentiment. In my county of Tipperary, 7,041 people provide regular unpaid personal help to a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problem or disability. This amounts to 4.4% of the county's population. According to the Central Statistics Office, CSO, a total of 195,000 persons were providing unpaid assistance to others on the last count, with the largest percentage increase seen among those aged 85 and over, where the number rose from 1,318 to 1,776, a rise of 34, which is huge.

I want to focus, however, on the very disturbing revelation that 3,800 children under 15 years of age are engaged in providing care to others, accounting for almost 2% of all carers in the State. That is almost 4,000 children, a shocking figure, spending their childhoods looking after their sick and disabled loved ones and family members. We have spoken in this House recently about the harsh and cruel way in which children were treated. Such actions were disgraceful, and it is right that we condemn them wholeheartedly and without reservation. It is my belief, however, that in a few years we will look back and be appalled at how we could have allowed or indeed forced these young carers to bear such an extraordinary emotional burden. How can it be right that children as young as 12, 13 or 14 are left to meet the physical and sometimes medical needs of their adult loved ones? How can we stand over this? We cannot.

All of us in this House are aware of the challenges adult carers face, and how difficult it is for them to find even a moment for themselves because of a lack of home care supports or other care packages that will give them some semblance of respite. If this is the case for adult carers, can we even imagine what it is like for the thousands of child carers in this State who must juggle school life, full-time care of their loved ones and trying to see a friend for some fun or games or whatever else young children should be doing?

I want the Minister to make a commitment to me today that this Government will put as much energy into addressing the scandal of child carers in this State as it has put into other child welfare issues. It would represent an appalling vista for us to allow this to go on. But for these children, many of their adult family members or loved ones would not have any care provided to them, and this is unacceptable.

We must salute the carers, young and old, but young carers should not be forced to do this. I salute in Tipperary Councillor Richie Molloy, who is the manager of the carers in Tipperary, and all the carers who give of such valuable time. Will the Minister give me a commitment that he will rectify this situation?

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