Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this motion from the Labour Party. The proposals in it are very sensible and should be implemented. I also acknowledge the work of Family Carers Ireland and the young carers, some of whom are here, as well as the Laois-Offaly family carers association and the work it does.

The means test needs to be abolished. Carers are on call 24-7. It is not like any other job. They live on small incomes and it is important that is recognised. It places a huge burden on them. It basically takes over their whole life. It determines what they can do and whether they can socialise, have friends or do any other part-time work. It is a huge call on people and we need to accept that. I, like others who have spoken, was surprised by the figures on young carers aged under 18. While I am aware of some carers, the breadth of the issue is very significant and the number of them under 18 is probably well over 70,000 now. They are a very separate group. They are providing great support in an unpaid capacity. They are trying to maintain their education, to keep going, maybe hold down a part-time job and do all sorts of things while doing this. The number will increase because our population is getting older. That is something we know. We need to try to keep people who have disabilities and illnesses in their own homes. This group is helping us to do that and we must acknowledge that.

The effects put a huge strain on the mental health of carers young and old, but for a young person in their formative years it must be a huge burden. It can be difficult enough for people my age who have been through the trials and tribulations of life, but for young people in adolescence it must be very difficult and really affect them. Their education is affected, as I said, and the Department of Education needs to recognise this. It is important to try to keep young people in the school system. That means providing extra supports, especially for young carers. These young people could be dealing with addiction situations in the household, a mental health issue, a physical health issue or all three. This is really serious. We need to provide those supports. The rules that cover the carer’s allowance and other income supports often act as a huge barrier to continuing in education and cause problems in the workforce as well when it comes to training and promotion.

Young carers are not recognised in the programme for Government and if it is to be reviewed at any time they should be included in it. More importantly, the Government should act on this motion now. We need commitments to support this group. The Government must commit, as the motion proposes, to put in place a cross-departmental group on young carers and designate a Department that will have lead responsibility and commit it to developing the dedicated programme of supports called for here. Identifying carers is also important. Sometimes they are hidden. Some people keep these things very private, but it may affect them in their schooling and their social life. The line Minister in this Department is a former Minister for Education and a former school principal so she will know what we are talking about here and recognise the responsibility to put proper targeted programmes in place to support young people and to keep them in education.

The Government must recognise fully the unpaid work of these carers, including the amount of work they are doing and the saving to the State, and it must guarantee some respite days and a young carer’s grant alongside bursaries for education, counselling and psychological support. I am asking the Government to bring forward its plan. What is in this motion is very reasonable. The Government says it is not opposing it and I welcome that, but this often happens. I have been watching this for 14 years. Sometimes the Government comes in here and does not oppose a motion, but will it act on it? That is the question going out of here today. The Government must take action on this. Young carers need it and I appeal to the Government to follow through.

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