Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward the motion and affording us the opportunity to again discuss the important work of family carers, and the need to review and reform supports for them.

Family carers have long been held up as the crucial pillar of care and support in Ireland. We have various strategies and documents referring to the important role that family carers play in our society. They are viewed as the backbone of care provision in Ireland. Parents caring for a loved one with complex needs often face numerous unquantifiable challenges. There are physical and mental health impacts. There is loss of income due to the inability to work outside the home, which leads to potential debt or poverty. There is also social isolation, strained relationships and the constant stress of advocating for adequate services and supports. Despite the fact that all family carers say they do not provide the care for the income they receive - they provide the care because they want to provide it and would not change that - Family Carers Ireland has done research that indicates family carers are lonelier, more isolated and are generally in poorer health than the average person. They have repeatedly been denied the care and support they need and deserve. From looking at the research, carer's allowance is inadequate, gender-biased, restrictive, and it undervalues care and is outdated. When it was introduced in 1990, it was not assigned to lifetime carers who provide prolonged care and require an integrated income support system that encourages participation in work and education.

I welcome the fact that the report of the interdepartmental working group is expected soon. It is to be hoped that report will be published at the time or very shortly afterwards and is not delayed. We need to look at what it proposes going forward.

It is not good enough that many carers' payments fall way below the established minimum essential standard of living. The income inadequacy imposed by existing social welfare payments has to be addressed in the upcoming budget. Core weekly rates must be increased significantly. Income thresholds and the means tests for carer's allowance must be raised considerably, which would result in higher payments for those who rely on this payment. It would also mean that more family carers would qualify for the allowance. Any changes to rates or thresholds need to be introduced from the beginning of the year.

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