Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Seery Kearney for proposing the motion. It is incredibly important and timely given that the population is growing older, but also in terms of dealing with the pandemic and the emphasis that is placed on people caring for vulnerable family members. The findings of the Citizens' Assembly emphasised the importance of recognising carers, including within the Constitution.

Rosalynn Carter stated: "There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers." Obviously, there will be a cross relationship between some of those as well. It is something that touches every single one of our lives, some more than others. While acknowledging the tremendous work of professional carers, I want to specifically emphasise the role of family carers because they are the backbone of care provision in Ireland. They deserve more support and recognition from the Government.

During previous terms in office, Fianna Fáil significantly improved supports for carers. The party introduced the carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite grant, which is now known as the carer's support grant.We also introduced for the first time an entitlement allowing carers to retain a full social welfare payment and to receive in addition up to half-rate carer's allowance. In this Government, Fianna Fáil is committed to reviewing and updating the national carer's strategy and to developing a pension solution for family carers that recognises their crucial and important work. The extension of free GP care to carers in receipt of the carer's grant is another measure that we look forward to implementing. Furthermore, we have undertaken to develop a carer's guarantee proposal that will provide a core basket of services to carers across the country, regardless of where they live. This was a key plank of our general election manifesto and is now securely in the programme for Government along with our programme partners.

We are helping to progress a highly ambitious plan to greatly increase home care. Home support is vital to enable older people to remain in their own home for as long as possible and to support family carers. An additional 5 million home care hours will be provided this year. What is also being introduced is an assessment tool to ensure that the services provided are matched to the needs of every individual. I have spoken to many carers who believe this will bring much needed improvement to home care, to the people being cared for and to the lives of the carers. I hope that these policies will have a positive and transformational impact on the lives of older people and their carers. By keeping carers close to home and expanding the range of health and social care services in the community, we want to enable everyone to live longer, healthier lives. It is particularly important for older people who access these services more frequently. While we all want to grow old at home that may not always be possible and long-term residential nursing home care is also required. Globally, the impact of Covid-19 on those living in long-term residential care settings has been significant. As we reopen society, we must plan to meet those challenges into the future.

As Chair of the cross-party committee on dementia in Leinster House I wish to speak briefly about it. I have some experience in Kildare of families who have people with dementia. I have never seen such selflessness, love, care and devotion, but I have also seen significant exhaustion, stress, worry and anxiety. That must be recognised and examined. There is now a dedicated focus on dementia care in the programme for Government, including pledges to implement the national dementia care strategy, ensure that home support is adaptable and responsive to the needs of those with dementia and also the commitment to increase the number of dementia advisers. While dementia brings many challenges for people living with it and those who care for them, access to the right services and supports can help people to live well in their community. It is most important that people with dementia and those that are caring for them gain some respite by developing the Alzheimer café model. It is something that we are looking at in Kildare but, unfortunately, we do not have a permanent premises. I am in the process of looking at different venues together with the Kildare branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, under the chairmanship of Marie Conlon, and with the national office. More money must be put into this area to ensure that those who have dementia and those caring for them have the opportunity to have a break and to benefit from respite.