Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment Sinn Féin for tabling this motion. We sound patronising here but we just cannot thank carers enough. They really are angels of mercy for the work they do and the way they do it. I had the privilege yesterday, along with Councillor Richie Molloy, of welcoming to the Dáil Gallery and the Dáil restaurant a group of carers who had earlier attended a function in the Ashling Hotel. They were representatives of carers who work day and night.

I want to condemn out of hand the way that retiring Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the Fine Gael party in general and the Government used and abused carers in the referendum by dangling them on a string and promising them something that the Government had no notion of delivering. Carers were getting nothing out of that referendum. In fact, they were going to get less. I deplore they way they were abused. There were constant phone calls from the Fine Gael director of elections, Deputy Humphreys, to ask its members do more and get out and canvass. The Government used and abused these people, as if they are not used and abused enough in the way they have to care for their families, with the removal of services like home help. Now we can get home helps ratified in a couple of days but the Government knows that there is nobody there to do the work. It is just ticking boxes. I condemn the patronising way carers are being treated. The way they were abused in that referendum was nothing short of scandalous.

The motion addresses many issues that carers need to be supported on. In particular, section 39 organisations and others are trying their best to fill the gaps. We must remember that there are children who are carers. There are young people who should be ag sugradh taobh amuigh faoin spéir, who should be out with their friends or in class in school but they are caring for parents or, in some cases, grandparents. It is an awful indictment of our State in 2024, especially given all of the money that is going into the HSE. When I came in here it was €6.5 billion or €7 billion but now it is €26 billion, with another €1.5 billion over again. Those at the bottom of the chain suffer all of the time. They are not getting the supports because of the bureaucratic nature of the system. I want to salute the people who come in, the home helps and carers, for the sterling efforts they make. We do not support them enough. We should support them. I support this motion and compliment the movers of same. We should all do our bit. I never fail to wear the carer's badge. It is a nice badge. I like to wear it and try to support them in any way I can.

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