Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I also thank the Regional Independent Group for bringing this motion before the House.

For people who contribute so much to the well-being of people who need care, it is unjustifiable that carers are expected to contribute so much, yet are expected live on payments that fall way below the established minimum essential standard of living. That is why to incrementally bring social welfare rates in line with a minimum essential standard of living over time, we are calling for the rate of carer's allowance and benefit to be increased by €12 in the budget. We are also calling for a €500 disability and carer's lump sum cost-of-living proposal at a cost of €172 million.

There is a contradiction between the expressions of appreciation for carers that come from the Government benches and the reality that they struggle to maintain an income that sustains them and the people they care for, while at the same time getting the respite and other services they need. This is evident from the complaints that come into my office from people who are stunned at the basis upon which the Department has rejected their applications for carer's allowance.

One would not find such demands made during plans for the Leinster House bike shelter, but it is okay for carers. In one instance I dealt with a case in which a person being cared for was changing their carer. The new carer was refused on the basis that the cared-for person did not meet the full-time care requirements as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act. This makes no sense as the requirements of the person being cared for did not change and could not change in that time.

Other applicants are left waiting inordinate amounts of time for a decision to be made, only then to be rejected. This is no way to treat the people who have so little and provide so much. To be honest, this Government’s approach to care, whether that is for people in need of respite, recuperation or palliative care, has not been acceptable in many communities.

St. Brigid's Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir is one example of where a service that was deeply ingrained within the community and which kept many people in their own community was ripped out of that locality. Reliance instead was put on private providers, or on services outside of the area, when many of the people at St. Brigid’s wanted to stay in it.

Carers are being increasingly relied on to help keep people in their own locality. They deserve more. The Government needs to back up its fine words with actions. Gabhaim buíochas.

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