Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for bringing this powerful motion to the floor. It is about having respect for carers and those with disabilities, and giving them support and a voice. It is about doing the right thing. I hope the Government will not oppose the motion and will come on board and support these people who are affected.

As previous speakers said, these jobs are done out of love and necessity. It is 24-7. Last year or the year before, I raised a Topical Issue regarding a mother who had cared for a child for more than 26 years but had never received as much as one cent for caring for that child. She walked the child when she had a broken hip. She cycled a bike with one leg because the child had to be walked twice a day. The problem was the means test. As she was in what could be called a convenience marriage, or a marriage on paper, but it was not matrimony in the house, and her partner was earning so much, the mother of the child was told for 20-odd years that she was not entitled to carer's allowance. When I raised her case in the House, I was told that people can look into situations on a case-by-case basis. We did not know that until we raised it. How many more people are in the same situation as this lady was? I met that mother when it was sorted. She thanked me and said it was the first time in her life that she had a bank account. This is what it is about. It is about real-life people.

We have all heard terrible stories. I get emotional every time. I remember one little child who was on a beanbag because the carer did not have an appropriate chair for the child who was on oxygen 24-7. The mother had to give up her teaching job. She was crying beside her child because she was worried she could not even pay the ESB bill to keep the oxygen going. This is what is so important about getting these people the support. You cannot put a price on it. We all know carers are saving the country millions, but it is not always about money. It is about respect and giving people dignity. Those who are affected and need that care should have the best care, which should never be based on their means but on their needs. I hope the Government will support the motion.

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