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

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. This matter is extremely important to me. It is crucial that we send out a clear signal that the carers who provide such great care in our communities are valued and supported.

I wish to address a number of issues in the short time available. The first of these is the means test for carers, a matter about which I have spoken many times in the Dáil. I refer to cases where people give up full-time jobs in order to care for an elderly relative, a sibling or a child and are paid carer's benefit for two years. After that period, because one partner in a relationship is working, the person providing the care is no longer eligible for carer’s allowance. We have to look at the care that is required in such situations. We need to review carer's allowance. What is needed by the person who is receiving care is fundamentally important as we move forward. Many people find themselves in the circumstances I have just outlined. There has been a great deal of discussion about the matter and some people in the Department have stated that it is being considered. Care need must be the most important piece in terms of the structures relating to carer's allowance as we move forward.

We also need to change the attitude in terms of carers. Last week's "Prime Time" programme certainly brought home to me that there is almost an ingrained culture within society in terms of begrudging the person who needs care the full support of the State. I took from the programme that this is inherent in the State. We must be robust in the context of how we protect the most vulnerable. Much has changed over the past number of years in terms of carer's allowance, the carer's support grant and the half-rate carer's allowance. They were all great initiatives almost a generation ago. It is time to take matters further and ensure that the State accepts the massive contribution made by those who provide care within communities for their families and loved ones. The review of carer's allowance should consider what is barring these people from getting supports from the State.

I could also speak about the issues also to which the Minister referred in the context of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Services in this regard are simply not available within the public sector right now. We should look at that because a massive difficulty is building up.

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