Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for what he stated regarding the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. In fairness, Deputy Feighan was in County Tipperary only a couple of weeks ago and he met a dementia group regarding the work it does and the support it needs. He is well aware of it.

Most of the requests I am talking about are essentially in the programme for Government and all I ask is that we implement the programme for Government over the next number of years. That is a genuine request from Family Carers Ireland and we should do what we say we will do. As the Minister of State said, €2 million was ring-fenced last year. That is welcome, but how we fund and spend that is the significant issue.

In the past two weeks we have been talking about a new bank holiday and whether it will be in November or February. For a carer, a family holiday does not exist. They are working every day. They do not choose to do it; they fall into it. Any one of us in this room could be a carer tomorrow and it is only then one will realise the support one needs from Government.

I appreciate the Minister of State's comments and his contribution and I look forward to meeting the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan.