Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Aire Stáit and his Government colleagues agree that the work carers do is extremely important and that carers deserve to be recognised for that work and supported in return. It is work done with love to allow our family members, friends, neighbours and members of our community who need care to continue to live at home and remain in their communities. It is work done by carers who do not get the weekend off, workers who do not get to switch off at the end of their shift. It is work that saves the State billions of euro. It is work, and it deserves to be compensated without forcing carers to jump through the administration hoops of means testing. Carers deserve to know their payment will not be cut suddenly if their partner's income tips them over the edge. People deserve to make the decision to offer care to a loved one without worrying if that decision will be financially disastrous for the family. It is work that happens all of a sudden. All of a sudden, a family member can need support and to be cared for. They need to be able to do that and to be supported by the State. That is why it is so important to abolish the means test.

Tá mé cinnte go n-aontaíonn an tAire go bhfuil obair na gcúramóirí baile fíorthábhachtach agus go bhfuil aitheantas agus tacaíocht tuillte acu mar gheall air sin. Is obair í atá déanta le grá ionas go bhféadfadh na daoine inár bpobail, is iad sin, ár muintir, ár gcairde agus ár gcomharsana, fanacht sa bhaile agus ina bpobail féin. Ní bhfaigheann na daoine a dhéanann an obair seo an deireadh seachtaine saor agus ní féidir leo imeacht ón obair agus an obair sin a fhágáil san obair. Tá sí 24 uair a chloig, seacht lá in aghaidh na seachtaine. Is obair í a shábhálainn an Stát seo na billiún euro.

Is obair fiúntach í. Tá obair iontach á déanamh ag na cúramóirí baile seo ach teastaíonn an tacaíocht uathu. Déanfaidh an tástáil acmhainne seo i bhfad níos deacra an tacaíocht sin a fháil. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil muid ag rá go soiléir go gcaithfear fáil réidh leis.

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