Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the motion brought forward by the Independent Group. It is a very important issue. Many of us know the key role that respite provides in supporting family carers and those with a disability. More than 500,000 family carers provide vital care and support for their loved ones.

I will raise one issue, in particular, that was raised with me by a family. They are really struggling to get carers. One member of the family requires a lot of care and carers are constantly not showing up. They cannot fulfil those hours and the family is left stranded. The person needs two carers at a time and if only one shows up it makes it very difficult. This is very challenging for them as a family. The individual who contacted me said that if carers are non-EU citizens they are entitled to work 20 hours per week. This should be increased to 40 hours per week in line with non-EU workers who work directly for the HSE and in private nursing homes. This would increase the number of carers available to carry out essential work. I am aware that such a proposal crosses over with the Department of Justice and that it is a complex issue.

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What this person is finding out, as are many families across the State, is that the HSE and care homes are sucking away carers from visiting homes. That is having a negative impact on families, who are at their wits' end. They need this support but unfortunately they are not getting it. If adjustments were made and there was a level playing field for all people working in the care sector, that would help ensure carers, like the ones in this family, are not let down day after day.

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