Christmas shut-down puts extreme pressure on thousands of carers

THOUSANDS of carers struggle to cope over the festive season as a vast number of services and special needs schools shut down, it was warned today.

Enda Egan, chief executive of the Carers’ Association, said many of the country’s 150,000 carers were left without any rest breaks and support as many respite centres, day care facilities and special needs schools close.

“There are a couple of factors coming together at Christmas time, a lot of services, but not all, close down. There is extra pressure on the carers, as a lot of breaks they get, even if they were minimal, are not there over Christmas,” he said.