Association calls for €5m for 161,000 family carers
A special €5m fund should be set-up to help teenagers caring for sick relatives, campaigners said today.
The Carers Association called on the Government to use the Budget to support carers whose work saves the State an estimated €2bn per year.
The support group said 5,400 young people aged between 15 and 19 provide up to 43 hours per week of unpaid care to relatives.
Carers Association chief executive Enda Egan, who presented the organisation’s pre-Budget submission to Government, said the burden on carers was damaging their own health.
“Family carers usually take on their role out of necessity and while it can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, by the very nature of the caring role, family carers experience much stress, frustration and isolation which can have a very negative impact on their health and well-being,” he said.
“We are imploring Government to seriously consider the proposals in our Pre-Budget Submission 2008 to help support family carers and young carers continue to carry out their caring role.”
Its proposals include a call for financial support, tax relief, healthcare and training, as well as the €5m fund to support young carers.
The Carers Association said more than 1,000 of the teenagers helping in the home provided care for over 15 hours per week, while almost 500 give 43 hours or more every week caring for a family member.
“Caring with no supports means these young carers are vulnerable and exposed to a lot of dangers including risks to their mental health, physical health and their schoolwork,” said Mr Egan.
The association says Ireland has 161,000 family carers providing over 3.5 million hours of caring work per week.
It estimates those who qualify for Carers Allowance get the equivalent of €1.10 per hour.
The Carers Association’s Pre-Budget Submission included calls for:
:: Medical cards and annual comprehensive health checks;
:: Proper remuneration, an increase in the Carers Allowance/Benefit to €338 per week, removal of the means test and allow family carers to receive a full Carers Allowance for each person they care for;
:: Implementation of legislation to provide carers with legal rights;
:: A commitment from Government to deliver the National Carers Strategy by June next year as the original deadline of December 2007 has passed.
