Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The funding for delayed discharges will result not only in value for money but the provision of humane care to older people. I acknowledge the thousands of people who are caring for people in their homes. They are doing phenomenal work for families. When the system is not delivering for them, they are too busy caring to be able to fight it. This needs to change, in particular, as the number of people with dementia and other conditions is ever increasing.

Day centres are of great benefit to carers and the people for whom they care and they should be available in every community. There are a number of day centres in the areas surrounding Macroom but there is gap in this regard in the town, one which I have highlighted to the authorities a number of times. For example, on the hospital grounds there is a vacant HSE building that would make an ideal day care centre.

When a person leaves a job or moves to part-time employment to care for a family member that person is eligible for carer's benefit.

However, it can take anything up to 16 to 18 weeks to have the benefit approved and it is a benefit based on one's stamps. It is not means-tested. It should be very straightforward and approved to support carers in supporting their families at home.

The home help service is fantastic. When approved, people think it is great that they have it, but there is still a challenge to have it delivered on the ground. It needs to be smoothed out and speeded up.

See this speech in context