Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson for the kind welcome. I compliment my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, for tabling this motion. While I have been out of politics for the past 12 months, I have met many of my neighbours and spoken with people who have been involved in the caring profession. I pay tribute to the many people who have cared for elderly relatives and even for younger people during this pandemic. Many people may not have had to care for older relatives or more vulnerable people in the past and have gone out of their way to make sure that they are well looked after, as well as ensuring that neighbours are well looked after.

I was speaking with somebody recently who is caring for her mother who had Covid, while her other parent unfortunately died recently. Her mother is at home and unfortunately confined to bed. Caring is a 24-7 undertaking. I am aware that so much is involved in it. I would like to see more training being brought in for people who are carers in their own home. This daughter who is living with her mother has to do many things, but has received no training. This is something that the Minister of State could consider. I know that there are training courses for many of the HSE staff or staff coming from some of the private companies. Training could maybe be offered for family members who go on to become carers.

Carers give so much. We want to acknowledge carers and consider a pension for them. I am aware of some people who have given up their jobs to go home to become carers. It is a privilege and honour to look after a family member when needed. I have seen in my own area that older people might sell their homes, maybe a three, four or five-bedroom house, and downsize.Part of the package where that happens is that a carer is involved. There is a big shortage of home care hours. It is something I have seen in the mid-west region. So many people have to fight to get an increase in hours. Many people are living on their own and there are not sufficient hours so the family might have to pay privately to bring a carer in. While that is essentially fine, private home care costs a lot of money. I would like to see a really big increase in home care hours. Carers are so beneficial to help keep people at home. For the person living at home, it gives great peace of mind and satisfaction, and helps give them a longer life because people are more comfortable in their own home. Many people have put themselves out to look after their loved ones and neighbours, from picking up their groceries and medication but also sometimes providing home care like showering. Not everyone is able for those kinds of things. We should pay a huge tribute. I am glad that the Minister of State and the Department are looking at acknowledging these people and perhaps putting a pension in place for them because in the past, when people gave up their jobs it had an impact on their contributory pension or whatever. It is good that consideration is being given to looking after carers. As people go on to live longer lives, it is important that those who look after them are acknowledged and cared for.