‘We couldn’t cope without it’

MARGARET CURRAN, 67, from Seaview in Co Kerry, has been caring for her husband John since he suffered a broken neck and became a paraplegic three decades ago in an accident.

Until the mid-1990s, the couple struggled without any financial support as the carers’ allowance system had not been introduced.

During that time Margaret, who receives the half-rate allowance in addition to her non-contributory pension, baked cakes and did dress-making in order to bring in enough money for her family. The couple’s youngest child was just five weeks old at the time of John’s accident.

They worked through the difficult years but are concerned any reduction in the finances would result in a return to these tough times.

“I’m annoyed they’d consider asking us to go back to that,” says Margaret.

“We’re 67 now, we both have a pension, but taking away the half-rate allowance would be like asking someone to have their wages cut by a third. We couldn’t cope.”