Payments to carers under review after report highlights inequalities

PAYMENTS to carers could be increased after the Government vowed to review their status following a scathing report which found most people struggle to juggle their caring responsibilities with work.

A hard-hitting report by the Equality Authority launched yesterday shows that over a quarter of carers devote more than 43 hours a week to looking after a dependant. Over half of women carers are also in paid employment, as are three quarters of men looking after a dependant in the home.

Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Coughlan has promised to look at making further improvements to ease the plight of carers.

“I am always prepared to consider changes in existing arrangements where these are for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available to me.”

The Equality Authority’s research report on Caring, Working and Public Policy lends further weight to the ongoing calls on Government to develop a National Strategy for family carers as a matter of urgency.

The report assesses the situation for Irish carers and looks at changing trends in relation to caring and paid employment. It also discusses the implications for public policy in this area. The report reveals and highlights the many inequities and difficulties in access to services and supports for different groups of carers around the country resulting in unequal opportunities for carers in relation to employment.

The report found that a clear gender inequality exists in relation to caring commitments and employment opportunities while more carers than ever are in employment.

It was also found that the demands of balancing work and caring poses a variety of strains, including mental, physical and emotional difficulties.

Carers’ Association CEO Enda Egan says this report independently confirms what they have been saying for years. The Association has been calling on the government to urgently establish a National Strategy on family carers, the need for which was first identified in a report by Comhairle, the national support agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy on social services, as far back as 2000, she said.

“This report highlights the many inequalities faced by Irish family carers today. Carers should be supported so that they have a genuine choice between caring and employment options. Accessible health and social service provision, adequate income support and the availability of flexible working arrangements must be implemented as a matter of priority.”

He added that the Government must now finally recognise the extent of the contribution of family carers to the economy of the State and immediately begin to develop a National Strategy to improve the lives of Irish family carers.