Renewed calls have been made to increase rate of pay that currently apply to carers in receipt of state pensions.
There is a belief that older carers feel “deeply aggrieved” that because they are in receipt of a state contributory pension they are only entitled to apply and claim for the half-rate of carers allowance.
Independent TD for Laois/Offaly Carol Nolan has said she is engaging with the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphries with a view to the payment increase.
Deputy Nolan said the problem is going to increase “given the changing demographic profile of the population.”
This follows claims in April from local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley that the Government had “failed the 1,752 carers in County Laois.”
Deputy Stanley insisted at the time that “it does not make financial sense” for the Government not to properly fund carers.
The Sinn Féin TD took aim at the Government’s attitude toward carers back in 2022 after figures revealed that almost 5,000 people across the state were waiting for a carer to be allocated to them despite being approved.
Speaking on the matter this week, Deputy Carol Nolan said:
“What I am talking about here are people who have worked all their lives, paid their taxes, and who now care for their loved ones, but who at the same time are being told that the rate of payment they can receive is only half of what it should be by right.
“Government needs to change this. We also know from a recent Family Carers Ireland report that almost three quarters of carers have never received respite and that half of carers must pay privately for services that should be publicly provided to support their caring role.
“These are not just policy failures. They are a betrayal of the social contract. There is no meaningful safety net for these carers in terms of adequate payment or respite. That must change.”
