Louth TD has called for more respite facilities to be delivered

Carers looking after loved ones are saving the State a fortune, but more flexibility around payments and better provision of respite is needed, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil.

The Dundalk TD was speaking during a Sinn Féin motion on carers, which was not opposed by the government.

Deputy Ó Murchú said that "a huge amount of work is done by carers which we could not afford as a State if we did not have those people who do that work" and added that there needed to be "an element of flexibility" when it comes to carer’s allowance.

He said: "We need to have an element of flexibility, and whether we are talking about the time someone spends on education or working, 18.5 hours with no element of flexibility is not working for many.

"We know there has to be some element of loosening-up of the means test threshold and even beyond that, because we know this is the only direction this can work."

He commended Family Carers Ireland and Inclusion Louth for their work and advocacy but said there needed to be more respite facilities such as the Maria Goretti Centre and Anam Chara.

He said: "It is making sure we can deliver what is necessary, and that guarantee we are talking about with regard to respite is something that needs to be followed up."

And Deputy Ó Murchú highlighted the fact that a recent report by Family Carers Ireland found that 34% of carers said the accommodation is not suitable to meet the needs of the person they care for.

He said: "We know the housing adaptation grants are being reviewed and we know what actually needs to happen.

"The Government needs to follow up in this regard".