Carers protest outside Dáil

A small group of carers are protesting outside the Dail today, angry at cuts to the Respite Care Grant.

A small group of carers are protesting outside the Dáil today, angry at cuts to the Respite Care Grant.

The yearly payment has been reduced by 20%, or €325.

The Carers Association say the payments are normally used to pay bills or fix and buy new equipment needed by families.

Mother-of-five Antoinette Norris from Finglas in Dublin has two children with different special needs and has lost €650 as a result of the cut to the payment..

She said that there are some weeks where she’s struggling to make ends meet.

"I need another banister at the other side of the stairs for Demi cause she wears splint so she's not able to get up and down the stairs - and that work is being done this week," she said.

"And the bars around the toilet - so she can get up and down - that's being done this week, and the same with...the bar on the shower so she can get out of the shower".

"I've never gotten a holiday out of it, ever."