Carers protest over Budget cuts

Carers are being driven to desperation by cuts to their allowance in the budget, according to the Carers Association of Ireland.

The association staged a protest outside the Dáil today to draw attention to the challenges facing family carers.

There are 50,550 family carers in receipt of carers allowances. A 4 per cent cut in their allowance equates to a reduction of €8.48 per week or €440 per year. The 8,324 carers over 66 will not be affected. .

According to the association, the cut will save Government just €14 million out of its €6 billion savings target.

While there were only 50 people at the protest, organisers said there would have been many more had it not been for caring commitments to the old, infirm, and people with special needs.

Speaking afterwards, Ann Hughes from Co Offaly said she would consider going on hunger strike to draw attention to the plight of carers.

“That’s how desperate I feel. [The Government] are not listening. It doesn’t mean anything to them,” she said.

Mrs Hughes cares for her daughter, Debbie (32), who suffers from autism and an intellectual disability. She said the budget cuts would make life incredibly difficult for her.

“Of all people to stop money on, how could they do it on the carers with what we save them? Carers work for something like 80 or 90 cent an hour. There’s no such thing as sick leave or anything like that, you’re 24/7,” she said. “Before the Budget, I used to be able to manage my money week to week. Now it doesn’t last from Wednesday to Wednesday.”

Ann McGrath cares for her daughter, Tamara (10), who suffers from a rare genetic disease called Canavan’s syndrome which necessitates round the clock care. She is totally dependent on her family.

Mrs McGrath said her disability allowance is her only source of income, and Tamara’s condition places extra pressures on normal household expenditure.

“I have to have heating all night and all day long, so it’s very hard to manage on what we have, we’re struggling at the moment,” she said. “It’s not easy, and things are going to get worse.”