Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In terms of locating the obligation within the family, the approach was adopted because of the particularly onerous and ongoing nature of the care that is provided by so many family carers and the absolute level of support that gives the State. The role of the Meals on Wheels volunteer is, of course, vital in society but I am not sure we can equate that laudable value of a voluntary role with the absolute dedication of the family carer who, but for their undertaking of that level of care, the person for whom they are caring would not survive.

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