Amid cutbacks, who cares for carers?

Marie Hickey would be lost without her grandson, Damien, 33, who has cared for her over the past nine years.

Damien, from Castletroy, Co Limerick, loves to look after the woman he calls Mum, but says nonetheless it is a full-time job. Following a series of strokes, Marie, 76, lost her speech. Her eyesight is also failing and she has other health problems.

“Washing, cleaning, eating, she needs everything provided to her within the house,” says Damien. “The only two things that I do not do for her are eat her food and sleep for her.