James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Penrose for bringing forward this important motion on carers, who do immense and phenomenal work in our society. Approximately 350,000 people in this country are carers, with one in ten people looking after a loved one, and this number will increase substantially as our population ages. Approximately one in five carers receive carer's supports. Many of these carers are at breaking point. They are very much isolated and suffer from anxiety and depression - very often because of the lack of support for them. When carers get to a point where they end up breaking down because they do not have the supports they need, it becomes self-defeating because they are no longer in a position to look after the people who need to be cared for. Those supports need to be put in place along with appropriate training and advice. Many carers simply are not aware of what rights are out there and how to access them.

Regarding respite care, I dealt with one woman today who told me that it has been more than six years since her family was provided with respite care, which makes it difficult for that family as its members become more and more tired looking after their loved ones. I also want to talk about the time it takes to get approval for carer's benefit, particularly in cases where people have terminal cancer. I know that, ultimately, there is back pay. I was told about it previously by the Taoiseach but that is an irrelevance when somebody needs approval for the payment in order that he or she can get the care he or she needs. I ask the Minister of State to pay heed to this motion and I am glad to support it.

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