‘Getting thrown these crumbs is of little use to carers’

MOTHER-of-three and carer Lisamarie Hodgins McMasters has described measures announced in the budget for carers as ‘crumbs’. Lisamarie, 40, living in Dundalk, is a full-time carer to daughters Séanadh, 13, and Keelyrose, nine. She also has a five-year-old son, Ríain. Keelyrose has autism and Sensory Processing Dyspraxia, while Séanadh has a rare condition called 3p syndrome, which has left her wheelchair bound, unable to chew, and with speech difficulties. The Government yesterday announced a once-off double week ‘Cost of Living Support’ payment next month, which will apply to carers, Living wage calls: Lisamarie with Séanadh & Keelyrose as well as a payment of €500 to those who qualify for the Carer’s Support Grant, in November.

Lisamarie told the Irish Daily Mail that, instead of once-off payments, more should be done to ensure carers continuously receive a living wage, such as scrapping or increasing the cap for the means test for carers’ allowance.

‘All these little things make no difference in the long run. I’m caring now for the two girls for the rest of my life.

‘Things need to be changed going forward, even if they didn’t come into effect until 2023 or 2024, that’s what they need, not just crumbs thrown at us,’ she said.

Keelyrose is currently waiting for day respite. Commenting on the €29million for new developments to strengthen disability services through the provision of additional respite and day services, Lisamarie said that, while the funding is welcome, she is not confident it will be put into action, saying: ‘They have no staff to actually facilitate it.’

And while she also welcomed electricity credits for all households totalling €600, she said more would be saved if the Government tackled the cause of the problem to reduce energy prices.

‘I welcome any payment that’s given, but throwing €200 here before Christmas – they need to change the energy prices.’