Carer plans ‘would not cost taxpayer’

A SERIES of “cost-neutral” policies should be introduced to help plug the gaps left by the scrapping of the national carers’ strategy, a leading support group has claimed.

On Tuesday, Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin said that due to the worsening economic crisis, the plan, first called for in 2004, would not be implemented.

Ms Hanafin and Health Minister Mary Harney claimed any publication would consist of “false promises” because no money was available.

However, reacting to what it described as a “slap in the face” to the 161,000 carers whose work saves the state e2.5 billion every year, the Carers’ Association has initiatives it says could be introduced at no extra cost to the taxpayer.

It says a “standard needs assessment model” could be developed with existing funds on a pilot basis, as could health promotion programmes focusing on carers. In addition, the group says that formally recognising family carers as a “priority target” within social inclusion policies should be put forward.

The proposals already have the support of 12-year-old Mary Condon.

The Cahir school pupil regularly provides support to her younger sister Aine, who has severe autism.

Last November, she was named Carer of the Year. However, despite her volunteer work, her mother Mary claims scrapping the carers’ strategy effectively means the family will continue to have no legal entitlement to support services they badly need.

“Really all we want is respite support and more home help hours, but we don’t have a concrete right to that,” she explained.

“Family carers were looking forward to the carers’ strategy for years, but now we don’t know what legal footing we have for specific services. I don’t like saying it, but to an extent this is going to be Mary’s career in the future, she’ll always have to look after Aine. She likes to do it, and she’s fantastic at it, but there are so many young people like her out there doing the same kind of work and all that decision by Minister Hanafin is doing is saying they won’t be given any support to do what they have to do.”

Carers’ Association chief executive Enda Egan said: “Our proposals would not subject the state to increased costs, but would make a great deal of difference to family carers and take some of the sting from the tail of today’s announcement. Should Government ignore these options, they will be making a clear statement that they are not going to give the proper recognition to the contribution of family carers to the economy.”