Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are back in here talking about carers and I really welcome the opportunity and thank the Regional Independent Group. The fact is that we are all going to talk about the huge savings to the State through the great effort that is put in by carers and how we could not operate without them but we still fail in delivering for them. We could probably have this conversation forever and we are in the run-in to the budget. We really need to see significant moves on this.

I will use two examples just in the past while which are two of many. One particular woman is a carer in her home but she also works for a home care company. She is trying to operate within the 18.5 hours per week because she, like everyone else, has to deal with the other realities of life with costs. Occasionally, because of the clients she is working with, it requires more time than is initially allotted and she may end up working 20 hours. What happens then, like many others, is that the carer's allowance section reviews the case, they receive the payslips, it is found to be over 18.5 hours, and she has to pay back the full amount for the week. There is no word other than "disgraceful" to describe this and the fact that there is no element of discretion or flexibility.

Another lady working for a dementia charity was asked by her boss to fill in because it was absolutely necessary as someone was off work sick. She did this for a considerable amount of time and, unfortunately, the same scenario happened to her but over a longer period of time. She now has to pay back €28,000 and I am sure that every Deputy in here and beyond could speak about multiple incidents like this. The fact is that it is utterly unfair and is an abject failure for us delivering for those who are delivering not only for their families but also for the State and are saving us a huge amount of money. One can imagine the day-to-day worry which people have to deal with in these sorts of circumstances. One is not talking about people who have huge resources. Not only are they curtailed in the work they can do in the time they have, not only are they under severe pressure, but they are trying to do their absolute best for clients, the term we use though we are talking about citizens who require absolute support. The carers provide that particular support and they then get absolutely hammered from a financial point of view.

My colleagues have spoken of the fact that we really need to make moves. We know that the rules around carer's allowance are incredibly rigid. Many are not eligible for the payment due to the means test and are in no way getting the support. They deserve recognition and we need to make those necessary moves on payment and on thresholds. Gabhaim buíochas.

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