Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion and the carers who are doing the work, day in and day out. For nearly 20 years I worked as a family support worker. In the course of that time, I came across many young people who were carers for one or both of their parents. We tried to give them as much support as we could but it was never enough because while we could finish our day, they could never clock off. From early in the morning, to late at night and sometimes throughout the night, they were the only carers. Their education and childhood suffered because this State was using them to fill the gaps in the public services. I have seen at first hand the effects on their education, from doing really well in school to struggling to get to school, or being constantly late and unable to study because the work in the home had to be done. They lost time with their friends and lost opportunities to build a social life, take on a hobby or be part of a social club or a team. A frightening statistic of the report shows that many felt stressed. I was gobsmacked by the statistic that says that 80% of young carers are at risk of clinical depression because of the pressure they are under. I support the asks of the Labour Party but there are three things the Government could do really quickly. The first would be to provide extra funding to family support initiatives. This would allow more family support work in the home, which would take the pressure off young carers and young adult carers. Respite support should be provided for carers. This would give young people who are caring day in and day out, sometimes 365 days per year, a bit of time for themselves.

I raised the issue of the Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living, BCIL, which received pitiful increases in supports, despite the centre massively increasing the supports that it provides. Puzzlingly, I got a reply from the HSE this week - because I raised it two weeks ago - asking for a business plan for BCIL but the HSE already has this because it was provided months ago.

Those young people deserve to get the help and support they need.

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