Difficulties facing carers and the housing crisis raised with Labour candidate on doorsteps

The difficulties carers face in securing services for their loved ones, the chronic shortage of housing and a call to restore Carrick-on-Suir Town Council were among the issues Carrick-on-Suir residents highlighted Labour Tipperary South candidate Cllr Michael 'Chicken' Brennan during his canvas of the town centre. 

The Killenaule councillor visited Chapel Street just off Main Street in Carrick-on-Suir while campaigning in the town on Thursday, November 14. 

First to answer her door is a woman who cares for her 51-year-old son who has an intellectual disability.

“You are the only ones who have come so far. Normally, we don’t get anyone; we get the leaflets in the door,” she tells him adding she considers it important for candidates to call.

The resident, who didn’t wish to be named, says carers like her need a TD who will talk up for them.

She points out that she is only entitled to the Half-rate Carers Allowance because her husband is working. But both of them are full-time carers of their son. Her son attends a day service but the service isn’t guaranteed every day. “They do their best but it’s not consistent,” she explains.

The woman says she and her husband have been fighting for services on behalf of their son since he was diagnosed as a young child.

Cllr Brennan tells her one of Labour’s election policies is to abolish means testing the Carers Allowance. He gets her contact details so he can assist her and her family.

Artist Kathleen Farrell was in her art studio on the street when the Labour canvassers called.

She tells Cllr Brennan, Carrick needs its town council back and complains the cleanliness of the town centre streets have deteriorated since its abolition. She recalls when she went to the Town Hall with a rates issue, the council official said she would have to ring the Council in Nenagh and get back to her.

“When you have to ring Nenagh, that says it all,” she declares.

Kathleen also complained about the lack of house building in her hometown and how difficult it is for young people to secure a home.

“Why aren’t they building more council homes, just two up and two down starter homes? They were building council homes when we (the country) had nothing,” she added, referring to the building of a long established Pearse Square residential area nearby.