Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am proud to second the motion. I commend my colleague, Deputy Wall, on bringing forward this important motion. I commend and pay tribute to the work of Family Carers Ireland and, in particular, to the work of all the young people engaged in providing care.

As Deputy Wall said, we heard today so many powerful testimonies from young people who themselves are providing care to siblings and family members. These are carers like Lucy, Conor, Benjamin and Sarah Ann who were so eloquent and yet so honest about the impact caring has had on them and their families. They were all very clear that they do not see their caring role as in any way burdensome. They do this for love, and there is nothing burdensome about loving a family member. Those positive feelings of love and those positive feelings around the desire to see dignity for the sibling or family member who requires care shone through from the testimonies of the young people we heard from. However, the problem is that when the State is outsourcing supports and not providing sufficient supports to young carers then caregiving does become physically, emotionally and financially draining. The young carers we heard from spoke about the stress caused for them and their families because there are not sufficient supports in place from the State.

There are very specific impacts from the dereliction of duty. Deputy Wall set out the profile of young adult carers as established by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI. They are receiving lower leaving certificate grades. They are less likely to be able to take up places in further or higher education. They are less financially empowered. Government policy has failed to understand and recognise the stress placed on young carers and as a result, they feel forgotten and it is harder for them to cope.

We need to recognise today the immense contribution made by young carers to society. As Deputy Wall said, we need to ensure that we shine a light on the work they do and that Government policies offer them sufficient support so they can fulfil their true life potential, as can those family members for whom they are providing care. We have heard from so many young carers who have spoken so powerfully about their experience, not just today in the audiovisual room but from young carers who have contacted us over recent days in light of the motion we are bringing forward. One young boy of 11, Noah, asked me to speak about his worries for his younger sister, Willow, who has cerebral palsy. He told me how hard it can be when she becomes unwell. He is very proud of his sister, but he is very worried for his future and for her future when his mum grows older, and he will assume even more caring responsibilities. Another young man told me about the supports he provides for his autistic brother. He said, "I don’t have friends over as my brother doesn’t like people but that’s okay, I understand. It can be hard. Caring can be fun sometimes but sometimes I just want to do normal things that families do." These are powerful testimonies.

I have powerful testimonies from those who see their friends who are young carers who cannot continue on to higher education because of their care roles and responsibilities. These are the real experiences of young carers in Ireland, 67,000 of whom are giving daily supports to the State and to their families.

The State cannot apply a financial penalty to young carers. It cannot see them continue to sacrifice education, job prospects or mental health in pursuit of their caring responsibilities. We must support young carers. We must abolish cruel policies like the means test and we must implement the policies and measures set out so clearly and comprehensively in this motion that will ensure that our young carers get the supports they need, and that their families and those who need care within their families are also adequately supported by the State. We owe it to the young people like Noah, Sarah Ann, Benjamin, Conor and Lucy from who we heard today.

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