David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I supported and commended the Government on the publication of the national carers' strategy. It is very important we take a holistic approach to caring and ensure people have access to training and have proper income and respite supports. There is a package of measures which are necessary to ensure those people who do a tremendous, difficult and demanding job in looking after people in their homes have proper supports. This week, as the Leader will know, the respite care grant cut comes into effect and more than 77,000 carers will see that respite care grant cut by one fifth. It is an appalling, cruel cut. We made these points during the last budget but I appeal to the Government that it is not too late to change its mind on this issue. The Government has continually refused to increase taxation at any level, including on those at the top, and has no difficulty standing over that, but it also has no difficulty standing over the cuts to carers who need respite.

Respite has an impact on the person who is being cared for, but it is hugely important for the carer who needs a break from a very demanding job. As we know, they do a very difficult job in very difficult circumstances for very low pay, so I call for a debate on the issue of carers and caring. We need to ask where the national carers' strategy is, what has been done since it was published, what additional resources have been put in place and what supports have been given to carers on the back of publishing the report, because publishing the report is only part of the solution. We need resources to support carers.