Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am increasingly concerned about the plight of family carers. I was contacted recently by one such carer who was especially keen that I would outline her case to the Minister to give some context to the challenges she faces. In essence, this Drumlish mother is the carer to three people. She cares for her elderly mother who lives a short distance away but is isolating and is totally dependent on her daughter. She also cares for her son who is in his 20s and is autistic. Unfortunately he has been hospitalised no fewer than seven times since October and has undergone emergency surgery on four occasions.

She also has a second son who is a chronic diabetic. Across the family unit, in two homes, she is caring for three people. Obviously, she has support from her husband, but the reality is that this carer has spent the best part of a year isolating herself, afraid to go out and mix with people. Effectively her life has been put on hold. She has no issue with this; she loves her family dearly. Her mother will get vaccinated quite soon and hopefully her son, who is at high risk, will also be vaccinated. Many of us believe that when those people are vaccinated, she should also be vaccinated.

On behalf of the Longford branch of the Irish Kidney Association, I raise the issue of dialysis. At the end of last year, the national renal office urged that the 2,000 dialysis patients be prioritised at the same level as people aged over 65. Several of my colleagues have already outlined the situation of dialysis patients. I take on board what the Minister said earlier in offering his personal views on it. Hopefully, there can be some movement on that.

I welcome that the roll-out of the vaccine for the elderly through GPs will start next week. However, I wish to highlight two examples. I know a couple in Ballymahon; the husband is 88 and the wife is 84. Hopefully, she will drive him to get his vaccine. Surely in such cases there should be some discretion for a GP to make some change to the criteria. I know a man aged in 81 living in Granard who has Parkinson's disease and is at high risk. I hope there is some discretion for GPs in such cases.

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