View Latest Press Release - Habitual Residency Condition 26th July 2010
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Minister for Social Protection Eamon O'Cuiv and Young Carer of the Year Maria Maher pictured at the launch of the Carers of the Year Awards 2010.
The Carers Association
The one thing that we all share is that at some stage in our lives we will either provide care for another person or we shall receive care. For this reason the issues surrounding carers and family care in Ireland are relevant to every one of us and are crucial to Ireland as a nation socially and economically.
The Carers Association was established in 1987 in response to the need for recognition of family carers and their rights and entitlements. In the following 22 years some advances have taken place but the development of improved rights and service provision for family carers still remains the major challenge facing The Carers Association today. Progress to date has been too slow due to a failure to recognise the economic and social significance of family carers work in the home. Every week 3.7 million hours are worked by 161,000 Family Carers. Less than 1 in 3 carers qualify for the Carers Allowance.
The work provided by family carers has been costed and the saving of the state is billions of euros every year. Many carers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week yet are not entitled to the same benefits enjoyed by other workers in our society. Our laws and regulations on equality, health and safety, working time, annual leave, sick leave and many others do not apply to family carers. Our constitution provides no recognition or protection for family carers.
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