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.