Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

What the Taoiseach just said is a really good example of how different the rhetoric is versus the reality of what people experience. The problem with what he is saying is that people have heard it all before. Carers have heard the same promises, not just from him but from his predecessor and the taoisigh before them. Instead of things getting better, they are getting worse. Already threadbare services have become even harder to access. That goes for respite, as well as access to therapies through children's disability network teams, CDNTs. The progressing disability services, PDS, programme is a failure. It has become harder to qualify for financial supports. Respite should be regular and routine. In fact, it is basically non-existent for many people.

The contents of the report by Family Carers Ireland are shameful. The system carers rely on is utterly broken and continuing to deteriorate. Trying to access any kind of support, no matter how meagre, involves a fight. Many carers do not have the energy to fight. They cannot take on the State and care for their loved ones, and they should not have to do so. Almost everyone in this House would be supportive of efforts to improve services and supports for carers. Why has there been so little progress? The Taoiseach says he is doing a report. We have all the reports we need on this issue. What we need is action.

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