FAMILY CARERS DESERVE OUR SUPPORT AND RESPECT – JOHNNY MYTHEN T.D.
WORLD-renowned conductor David Brophy, in tandem with Focus Ireland and R.T.E., must be congratulated for producing “Unsung Heroes” and quite literally giving a voice to the carers of Ireland. Wexford was well represented, by families such as the Johnstone’s, McCanns, Powells, McGuinnis’s, and many more. They made us all very proud and gave a true meaning to “lamh agus croí.” Their dedication, endurance and unconditional love shone out clearly through the entire show.
“This programme, without any pomp or frills, gave us an understanding and down to earth insight on the difficulties, stresses, and shared love that Family Carers experience on a 24/7 basis. Now, these carers need a significant amount of help, considering almost 10 years of failure by our current government to provide adequate support services and the pressing need of new statutory legislation for home care.
“This vital sector, when it comes to government policies and funding, are way down the pecking order. In fact they are a full 12 years down. The family carers of Ireland save the state approx. €10 billion in care bills each year and yet, budget after budget, and continuing on through successive governments have shamefully neglected increases in the Carer’s Allowance. In fact the allowance is less now in 2020 than it was back in 2008.
“Additionally, in that 12 year period, the disregard of carers income and their basic support needs has remained stagnant, despite a commitment given by the government in 2016. The fact that the capital formula used for the calculations of carer’s allowance has not changed since 2005 shows just how disregarded and disrespected these carers are by our current system.
“This failure to provide fit for purpose services, must be addressed by the incumbent government. Family Carers are a gleaming asset to the future of our nation, and must be given the proper services and adequate funding to continue to look after our special and vulnerable citizens now and into the future.”