Carers

Long-term carers to be 'rewarded and recognised' with pension entitlements

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys is bringing forward legislation to provide pensions for long-term carers when they retire

Tue, 21 Nov, 2023

New legislation to allow for pensions for long-term carers

People who have been caring for disabled children or other loved ones for more than 20 years are to receive pension entitlements under new changes

Mon, 20 Nov, 2023

Almost 300,000 people now providing regular unpaid care, Census shows

There are now 53% more carers compared to the last Census, new data shows

Thu, 28 Sep, 2023

Jennifer Horgan: We are not robots, we need to take a step back and be human again

Should humans feel so uncomfortable in their human skin that robots seem like the best option as their carers?

Fri, 08 Sep, 2023

Young backpacker man pilgrim standing on the Obradeiro square (plaza) - the main square in Santiago de Compostela as a end of hi

Letters to the Editor: A Camino guide and an inspirational soul

One reader pays tribute to the late John Brierley while others address issues including the provision of carers, the cost-of-living crisis, and RTÉ's exposé of abuses in the dairy industry

Thu, 13 Jul, 2023

We need support not praise, says frustrated mother and carer

"I think things haven’t moved on so much because everybody knows we're going to keep doing it,” says full-time carer Lynsey O’Donovan.

Sun, 09 Jul, 2023

Senior Man With Hands On Walking Frame With Care Worker

Pandemic bonus still not paid to more than half of non-HSE employees

Complications have arisen for payments to groups including private nursing homes

Sun, 15 Jan, 2023

Limerick woman named Family Carer of the Year as Cara Darmody takes Young Munster title

'Their stories are ones of love, kindness, empathy and selflessness. As a society, we must ensure that we listen to those stories, that we recognise the essential contribution made by family carers and that they are truly supported to care safely at home'

Thu, 24 Nov, 2022

Cabinet signs off on pension boost for people who work beyond the age of 66

Employees in Ireland who stay working up to the age of 70 will be paid up to 24% more in their State pension upon retirement

Tue, 20 Sep, 2022

'If we didn't get a few hours home support I'd be found dead somewhere'

Parents of children with complex special educational needs want summer programmes for their children to be included in the school year

Sun, 17 Jul, 2022

Up to 15,000 carers still waiting to receive €1k pandemic bonus

Some people may have to wait until mid-July before receiving the payment despite those employed directly by HSE having already received the bonus

Fri, 03 Jun, 2022

'We don't feel valued': Family carers demand better financial support

An Oireachtas Committee has heard from a number of carers about the challenges they face

Wed, 18 May, 2022

Homecare staffing crisis putting people at risk of harm

Older people may be forced to move into residential care sooner than they want, or may be stuck in hospitals, unable to be discharged

Sun, 01 May, 2022

Home caregiver wearing a facemask while assisting a senior woman walking with a mobility walker

Home care crisis: Carers paid €11 per hour while companies make huge profits

Low wages, long hours, and insecure working conditions are pushing the largely female workforce out of the caring industry — which has a direct impact on the people who rely on carers

Mon, 25 Apr, 2022

Elaine Loughlin: Retrofit plan will go up in smoke if we can’t find people to do the work

Elaine Loughlin: A century after independence, we still carry so much shame

Equality is doled out in different measures for children with a disability or illness, or those born into poverty or homelessness

Tue, 15 Mar, 2022

No €1,000 pandemic bonus for family carers but maybe now we can live again?

The announcement that restrictions are being lifted was warmly welcomed, and while carers are being overlooked in the €1000 bonus from Government and left scarred by the effects of the pandemic, we are now looking forward to a return to living.

Mon, 24 Jan, 2022

Family carers demand more support as State services grapple with staff shortages

Cork/Kerry region is 21% down on homecare staff with a largescale HSE recruitment campaign underway aimed at hiring 300 people

Tue, 18 Jan, 2022

Call to clarify when schools can refuse students on basis of religion

Human rights watchdog also wants domestic workers to be defined as employees and protected under employment equality laws

Mon, 10 Jan, 2022

Irish Examiner View: It’s time to support the forgotten frontline

The country’s 500,000 carers save the State an estimated €20bn — they should not have to advocate for services.

Thu, 16 Dec, 2021

Number of carers offering home support in Cork and Kerry down 21%

The HSE has a campaign underway to recruit an additional 300 healthcare support assistants

Tue, 30 Nov, 2021

Hospice Nurse visiting an elderly male patient

Shortage of carers may force older people to leave their own homes

Sage Advocacy said the current situation is already at 'a breaking point' and is worsening with each passing week

Fri, 08 Oct, 2021

Friday TV Tips: Jamie and Georgie Crawford on overcoming devastating diagnoses

— and Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway and Helen Mirren on the truths of what it means to be human

Fri, 21 May, 2021

Alison O'Connor: Restrictions? Let's begin by lifting one that has solely targeted women

Article 42.1 does not confine women to their homes, but it has certainly contributed to denying our agency and autonomy

Fri, 23 Apr, 2021

‘Absolutely essential’ family carers prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine

Mary Lou McDonald said it was “absolutely essential” that the country’s 500,000 family carers are given priority on the list when it is reconfigured by the Department of Health

Wed, 17 Feb, 2021

Letters to the Editor: School closures may become stain on the nation

The delay in the reopening of schools during the third wave of the pandemic will be a stain on our national conscience unless we act now. There is a distinction between children with special needs and children who are vulnerable.

Tue, 02 Feb, 2021

Carers in NI ‘feel abandoned by authorities’ during coronavirus pandemic

Hundreds of thousands of carers feel abandoned by the authorities during the coronavirus pandemic, with many now at breaking point, MLAs have been told.

Thu, 12 Nov, 2020

'Any carer would welcome a waste waiver with open arms'

'No' is a word full-time carer to her son Fionn, Brenda hears all too often

Tue, 27 Oct, 2020

Shelving of waste waiver 'a disappointment' say Family Carers Ireland

The organisation said the previous government had carried out work on a proposed scheme that had even gone as far as setting aside a multi-million euro budget for the plan

Tue, 27 Oct, 2020

Carers and their families were failed spectacularly during Covid crisis

The clamour to fight for the economic wellbeing of ‘workers’ and ‘ordinary’ people is worthwhile, but it has revealed the lowliness with which the political class regard us carers

Wed, 14 Oct, 2020

Carers face loss of respite due to insufficient Covid-19 support from the State

Government allocated just €10m for the remainder of this year to cover the pandemic costs

Fri, 02 Oct, 2020

Minister announces €5m for disability services

The funding is part of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020

Wed, 16 Sep, 2020

New report highlights abuse of carer's allowance

Sage Advocacy discovered that very vulnerable people who rely heavily on their carer are reluctant to complain and don't report poor quality or non-existent care

Tue, 04 Aug, 2020

Letters to the Editor: Carers are forgotten victims of lockdown

In this pandemic there are a forgotten group of people; they are the people who have to cocoon because of underlying health conditions and families of vulnerable children with complex medical needs, many of whom have a physical and/or intellectual disability/autism.

Thu, 07 May, 2020

Family Carers Ireland call for 20 days holiday a year for full-time carers

The charity is holding it's annual National Respite Weekend in Cork this year.

Sat, 07 Mar, 2020

Social workers support court-imposed removal orders to protect adults from abuse, report shows

A new report shows the majority of social workers back the idea of court-imposed removal orders to protect an adult from abuse and Banning Orders against those who pose a risk.

Wed, 11 Dec, 2019

Report reveals how many of 355,000 family carers in Ireland's deal with abusive behaviour

The report from Family Carers Ireland that supports 355,000 family carers shines a light on a hidden aspect of care-giving seldom discussed.

Thu, 17 Oct, 2019

Protest over carers' crisis: 'I don't feel I'm allowed be a parent to all three of my children'

Brigid Flanagan is a family carer but she also wants to be a mother to her three children, something that is impossible because of her youngest child's severe health problems.

Wed, 16 Oct, 2019

Family carer's group calls for budget increase to tackle 'postcode lottery'

Family Carer's Ireland are renewing their call for a €110 million increase in the home supports budget in Budget 2020.

Tue, 23 Jul, 2019

Govt urged to address mental health services following review into deaths of 13 children

The body which reviews the deaths of children known to care services has urged the government to address the lack of adequate mental health services after outlining how it has been a factor in some of the cases it has reviewed.

Thu, 04 Jul, 2019

70% increase in number of carers diagnosed with depression in last 10 years

The figure is one of the findings from research carried out by Family Carers Ireland, ahead of its pre-Budget submission today.

Wed, 26 Jun, 2019

Carers saving Government €10bn every year, says group

Carers in Ireland are saving the State up to €10bn annually, according to Family Carers Ireland, which holds its national fundraising event today.

Fri, 21 Jun, 2019

Learning Points: Compassion and care is only fair – for everyone

One of the most challenging and rewarding occupations is care-giving.

Thu, 20 Jun, 2019

Care groups 'coerced' into hiding true service costs, committee told

Cash-strapped organisations providing care to thousands of people with disabilities are being “coerced” into hiding the true cost of delivering services, the Oireachtas health committee has been told.

Wed, 19 Jun, 2019

'Recognise my role as a carer': Mother who gets just four hours sleep a night tells govt

A Meath mum who survives on just four hours sleep a night as she provides 24-hour care for her daughter has called for reforms in the next budget to recognise the roles of full-time parent carers.

Tue, 18 Jun, 2019