Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputies Browne and Tully. We will take five minutes each. I will raise two issues with the Minister. The first is the issue of carers, which has previously been mentioned. They are obviously a vital group in our society but they have not got the appreciation they deserve over the past three months. They have taken on incredible responsibility and been under incredible pressure without the normal respite support they would expect.

That ranges from children with disabilities to looking after parents with a range of disability challenges. It is important that we take this opportunity to acknowledge the vital role they play. If there is going to be a full five-year Dáil term, we must do better for carers overall, but now they need to know when respite services will be reinstated in their communities and when they will get a break in terms of schools and community and health facilities in their areas. I ask the Minister to respond to that. Although I probably do not need to say this to him, I take this opportunity to express to them the appreciation of the Oireachtas at this time.

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