Pre Budget Submission
Our Pre Budget Submission to the Government took place on Wednesday 11th November 2009. The Carers Association asked Government not to cut vital social welfare payments for carers in Budget 2010, as proposed in the McCarthy report. Following Government’s decision not to publish the long-awaited National Carers Strategy, the organisation is particularly concerned that Government may eliminate or close to new applicants the half-rate Carers Allowance introduced in 2007.
Approximately 18,500 family carers receive the half-rate Carers Allowance of €110 per week in recognition of the full-time care they provide and to help with the many costs of care. To qualify for this payment, carers must be in receipt of another social welfare payment such as the state pension and provide fulltime, high-dependency care, which is often in excess of 50 hours per week. The allowance of €110 would only provide five hours of care per week at market value and The Carers Association is urging Government not to cut this payment or close it to new applicants. The organisation is also asking Government to consider the cumulative effects of proposed cuts on family carers, including cuts to other social welfare payments, the suspension of the Christmas bonus and reductions in many health services.
Roisin Shortall, Labour TD, Family Carer Alison McKim, Mary Upton, Labour TD, Jan O'Sullivan, Labour TD and John McGuinness, Fine Fail TD pictured meeting Zack McKim at his home. Also present was Joe Behan TD.
New this year, The Carers Association invited Ministers, TD's and Senator's to visit family Carer Alison McKim in her own home in Terenure on the "Care Bus". Alison is a single mum who provides full-time care for her son Zack (17). Zack has Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Asthma and is blind. He is completely dependent on Alison for all his needs. Alison receives the lone parents allowance and the half-rate carers allowance while Zack receives a disability payment.
Chick Here for Press Release
| The Carers Association Pre Budget Submission 2010 | |
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"Equality and Justice for Family Carers. Can we afford them?" |
| The Carers Association Pre Budget Submission 2009 | |
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"Time to Build a Caring Society" |
