Family Carers Ireland demand action from Tipperary General Election Candidates

The manager of the Clonmel branch of Family Carers Ireland has called on voters to consider issues that are facing family carers prior to the General Election.

“The 174 men and women elected to the 34th Dáil are key to building an Ireland where family carers are recognised for the immense contribution they make to families, society and the economy; where family carers feel supported not only to cope with the challenges of care giving but also to have a life of their own alongside their caring role. A life which includes caring but is not overwhelmed by it,” said Richie Molloy, manager of the Clonmel branch.

He said that ahead of the election, Family Carers Ireland is urging each candidate and political party to demonstrate their commitment to Ireland’s 500,000+ family carers by endorsing the ten pledges contained in the Family Carers manifesto.

“If delivered over the term of the next government, these pledges will help achieve a new social contract for care by creating a society where family carers are properly recognised, fairly compensated for the care they provide, not excluded from support due to their means and have timely access to the services they need when, where and how they are needed. Across Ireland, 500,000+ people provide unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour who is affected by long-term illness, disability, older age, or has additional care needs.

Thousands of us take on new caring responsibilities every day – it can happen unexpectedly, or gradually, but almost all of us will experience care at some point in our lives. Over the last decade, the number of carers and the volume of care they provide has increased substantially. Since 2011, the Census has recorded a 60% increase in the number of people who provide unpaid care, and the number of people who care for more than 43 hours per week has more than doubled. The value of unpaid care is now worth a staggering €20 billion a year – almost equivalent to the annual budget of the HSE, and without which our health and social care systems would collapse,” he said.

The ten pledges are:
Establish a new non-means-tested Fmily Carers Payment to replace Carers’s Allowance.
Continue to develop the supports and services available to family carers throughout the country.

Implement a respite strategy guaranteeing family carers access to appropriate and regular respite.
Reform the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme and introduce a Transport Support Scheme committed to in 2013.

Abolish waiting lists for Assessments of Need and give children a right to the interventions identified in the assessment report.
Establish a statutory home support scheme that delivers high-quality and affordable home care.
Deliver a plan to realise every child’s-constitutional right to an education in a place and manner appropriate to their needs.

Facilitate independent living for disabled people with appropriate choice and control over where, how, and with whom they live.
Support family carers to enter or remain in employment or education if/when they can.

Guarantee sustainable services for family carers by funding voluntary organisations delivering Service Level Agreements on behalf of Government on a full cost recovery basis.