Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I again press the case for family carers and the necessity of affording them a level of priority in the vaccination programme.

Currently, they are identified just as part of the general population.

Yesterday, the HSE published its plan for the safe return of services. It reflects the huge pressure the system is under and will be under. Therefore, the work of family carers and the value of it should be all the more apparent. They repeatedly ask who, if they fall sick or are left vulnerable, picks up their caring work. The answer is the system would not be in a position to pick up that huge amount of work. There was confusion within government or at least within Fianna Fáil, with one Fianna Fáil Deputy writing to some family home carers to say a decision had been taken by the Minister to afford this priority. The Minister denied that stance. I would like clarity and I would like the Taoiseach to confirm that family carers will be given the recognition and position they deserve.

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