Kildare Senator supports motion to improve the lives of family carers

A Senator based in County Kildare has praised a motion which she says will 'improve the lives of family carers, and for those they care for.'

According to Fianna Fáil Senator, Fiona O'Loughlin, who is also the Chair of the Oireachtas Women’s Caucus (OWC), the motion is a cross-party one.

Commenting on the ambitious motion, she said: "The OWC decided to focus on the review and renewal of the current national carer’s strategy.

"We sought submissions from care organisations and those with lived experience from a variety of caring backgrounds. From national advocacy organisations to family carers who are the front line of our care sector."

"Following a request for submissions to the OWC's work, we received 38 submissions."

The Senator said that the OWC brought together ten different organisations together to consult with OWC members: "Shine, Family Carers Ireland, Care Alliance Ireland, Westcare Homecare, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Diabetes Ireland, Inclusion Ireland, Sage Advocacy, the Irish Hospice Foundation, special schools, and classes and, as I mentioned, individuals who came in to give us information about their lived experiences."

She continued: "Our existing national carers strategy was published in 2012 and set out 42 actions to be undertaken by the Government to improve the lives of family carers; those actions covered the needs of family carers and those for whom they care, including the need for access to home care and respite, adequate financial supports, transport, information, advocacy, housing, training, employment, and the right to a life of their own away from their caring role.

Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin. File photograph.

"Every year, following the publication of that strategy, the Department of Health has produced an annual progress report since 2012.

"However, this ceased after 2018 and it was acknowledged that this needed to be revisited.

"I understand from the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, that work is ongoing on the review."

In particular, Senator O'Loughlin said that one of the areas that was reflected in the stakeholder engagement was the  high prevalence of loneliness and social exclusion among carers: "I acknowledge that the government have committed to holding a referendum in 2023, which has now been extended to early 2024, to implement the recommendations of the citizens' assembly and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Equality."

She concluded: "Carers play a hugely important role in our society, and I am glad to see the owc championing a rights-based approach to caring and will continue to work with colleagues to advocate for our carers and those they care for."

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The Kildare-South politician also welcomed the news that €170,000 in further education capital grants would be allocated to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB). 

Commenting on this announcement, Senator O'Louglin said: "The €170,000 in new funding is part of a wider increase of €5.4 million across 14 ETBs in further education capital grants announced by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

"The funding announced is in respect of 127 ETB projects, covering health and safety issues, small-scale energy efficiency measures, equipment and requests relating to positive improvements for learning spaces."

She addedl "The new funding is in addition to €8 million issued in April under the Devolved Capital Grant to the 16 ETBs to invest in small-scale FET investment priorities at a local level under Project Ireland 2040."

In the context of the Kildare and Wicklow ETB, she said: "The Kildare Wicklow ETB is a driving force of education and training in the local community.

"This additional funding is hugely welcome and will benefit both current and future students here in Kildare."

"I’m committed to ensuring the best possible education outcomes for people in our community and I’m glad to continue to strongly support the work of our local ETB," she concluded.