Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I thank all the carers of Ireland for all the great work that they do in performing essential work for our communities. They allow people to live at home in dignity, they help ensure better outcomes for those that they care for, they contribute considerably to people's health and well-being and they reduce the pressures on an already-stretched health service and care homes. In doing that, they make incredible savings to the taxpayer. Unfortunately, this is not acknowledged and the praise they receive in this House is not always matched in practice. As of last year, 5,556 individuals were on waiting lists for home support. While we have the thanks, we need to commit and we need to work to ensure the lives of carers are made better. A report from Family Carers Ireland last year laid bare the true impact. A total of 72% of home carers never receive respite. Nearly half of carers are paying for products or services privately that should be paid for publicly. A total of 69% are struggling financially while nearly a third were cutting back on essentials such as food and heat or missing mortgage payments and 76% reported moderate to severe loneliness. Some families cannot get carers and we wonder why when we look at the conditions they have to work under. The Minister of State needs to take action. It is within his power to address these failures. I want to acknowledge the work of my party and constituency colleague Senator Pauline Tully for having consistently brought forward concrete proposals in this regard. The carer's means test needs to be abolished and the pay and conditions of workers needs to be regulated to address, recruit, and retain workers in these care settings. We need to begin respecting, delivering and caring for our carers.

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