Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome this Private Members' motion and I commend Senator Seery Kearney for bringing it forward. It is so important that we recognise the importance of carers in our communities. I know so many people who care for loved ones. It can be so rewarding and it can also be so incredibly difficult and isolating for so many. Family carers are the backbone of care provision in Ireland and they deserve the support and recognition we are giving them today but as we all agree, they need more than recognition and platitudes. Family carers are the sole support for their loved ones who need care, especially in the last year. We must look at what last year and this pandemic must have done to family carers and the worry, fear and incredible weight put on their shoulders - the fear of bringing Covid into a home. It must have been incredible. I know a bit from caring for a family member at home - not to the full extent of being a carer but it is so worrying.

I very much welcome and support the recommendation of the recent Citizens' Assembly to change the text of Article 41.2 of the Constitution to language that is not gender-specific and obliges the State to take reasonable measures to support care within the home and wider community. This is part of the change that is needed to properly value care in this country. The majority of carers are female and it is an example of how the value of female caring work has often been taken for granted and very much unappreciated.

As I said, everything stopped last year. The normal day centres and activities individuals would have been so used to stopped overnight and are still not back to normal. If I had one extra ask, it would be for these vital community day care centres for our older people and younger people to be brought back as a matter of urgency. A lot of people are vaccinated and this vaccine bonus must be brought to our day care centres to allow our citizens to live properly again.

Fianna Fáil has always been committed to looking after carers. During our previous terms in office, we have significantly improved supports for carers and I hope this Government will be no different. This Government is also committed to the review of the national carer's strategy. I support the call to include a review of the thresholds for receipt of carer's allowance. Caring is a 24-7 responsibility and I feel that the thresholds should be increased or indeed that a baseline payment for all carers should be considered.

We know that family carers often do not get the appropriate support and through not giving them the necessary support, we often put their health in jeopardy. We need to look after our carers so it goes without saying that I fully support the programme for Government’s commitment to extend free GP care to carers in receipt of the carer’s support grant. The commitment cannot come quickly enough for these carers. There are many other supports that can be provided, such as increased opportunities for education and training. Training will help carers to care for themselves and their loved ones better.We can do this by delving deeper and asking carers what they need in their homes - what specific interventions would make their lives better to enable them to look after their loved ones and themselves.

I support the carer's support grant, which was increased in budget 2021 from €1,700 to €1,850. It is estimated more than 100,000 carers have benefited from it. That is the first increase in that grant since 2016.

Family members often give up their careers to help loved ones. This sacrifice inhibits people from building up a pension, which was mentioned earlier. Most carers are female and that caring role forces women into a pension poverty trap. I welcome that the Government has pledged to develop a pension solution for family carers and that it recognises this work. We must facilitate life-long carers to have financial security in their future. Just because people commit to being a carer does not mean they should be excluded from building up a pension. I ask the Government to make good on that pledge.

I support the calls with respect to the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act. We must accelerate the implementation of the commenced sections. We must facilitate our citizens to make their own decisions. They might need extra assistance to do that. We should not allow a disability, an accident, a medical procedure or a chronic illness prohibit them from making those decisions. It is very important they make their own decisions and that we respect their individual rights. I would appreciate if this would be acted on with a matter of urgency.

I commend the motion. I support it. We must recognise the value of carers and the care work individuals all over the country undertake every day and every night. They love what they do but that love should not be taken advantage of by the State.