Michael Fitzmaurice criticises carers means test, urges reform
Michael Fitzmaurice spoke about carers, the means test and anomalies in the Fair Deal, arguing the means test unfairly penalises family carers and that practical failings leave elderly people without promised homecare. He called for recognition of carers' contribution and asked the minister to review succession and leasing issues in the Fair Deal.
Michael Fitzmaurice welcomed the minister's support for the motion and said the Programme for Government refers to reviewing the means test. He described cases where sons or daughters returned from Dublin to care for parents but were denied carer supports because they maintained a house in Dublin, saying that was wrong when those carers were saving the state significant money compared with nursing home costs.
He contrasted the modest payments received by carers - citing $250 a week - with typical nursing home costs of $1,100, and criticised what he called "wild figures" from the Department. He urged greater appreciation and recognition for carers around the country for the work and savings they provide to the State.
Michael Fitzmaurice warned that allocated homecare hours are often not delivered, noting letters can grant 7 to 14 hours a week yet no one shows up. He said this leaves families scrambling to care for elderly relatives and called the failure to provide promised visits a major problem.
He welcomed recent Fair Deal changes on succession but highlighted remaining anomalies about who qualifies as successor. He raised farm examples where children live elsewhere or lease land, saying leasing can create difficulty under the Fair Deal and asking the minister to examine these issues. He also referenced contributions from Deputy Flynn and thanked Deputy O' Flynn.
Carers and the means test
Michael Fitzmaurice welcomed the minister's support for the motion and said the Programme for Government refers to reviewing the means test. He described cases where sons or daughters returned from Dublin to care for parents but were denied carer supports because they maintained a house in Dublin, saying that was wrong when those carers were saving the state significant money compared with nursing home costs.
Costs and state savings
He contrasted the modest payments received by carers - citing $250 a week - with typical nursing home costs of $1,100, and criticised what he called "wild figures" from the Department. He urged greater appreciation and recognition for carers around the country for the work and savings they provide to the State.
Failures in homecare delivery
Michael Fitzmaurice warned that allocated homecare hours are often not delivered, noting letters can grant 7 to 14 hours a week yet no one shows up. He said this leaves families scrambling to care for elderly relatives and called the failure to provide promised visits a major problem.
Fair Deal succession and leasing anomalies
He welcomed recent Fair Deal changes on succession but highlighted remaining anomalies about who qualifies as successor. He raised farm examples where children live elsewhere or lease land, saying leasing can create difficulty under the Fair Deal and asking the minister to examine these issues. He also referenced contributions from Deputy Flynn and thanked Deputy O' Flynn.
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Transcript
I welcome the opportunity and speak on this motion. I do appreciate, Minister, your support in it. As we all know, and I know in the Programme for Government, carers are mentioned about looking at it or saying the means test. The means test, I've seen so many people that their sons or daughters went from the west of Ireland to Dublin or whatever. They came home to mind their parents. And because they had a house in Dublin that they couldn't live in two houses, they weren't allowed the carers. And that's completely wrong. Because what they were doing was saving the state. What did they get? $250 a week. And what they were saving the state, you know, generally it costs $1,100 in a nursing home. So I think we should appreciate the work done by carers right around this country. And I know most people do. But I think that, you know, the Department has thrown out wild figures of what it costs. But we don't seem to mind spending money on other things. I think they're crucial. The other part, and I know it's not the money side of it, unfortunately, you can be deemed or given hours for somebody belonging to you at home, but then no one shows up. And that's a major problem for our elderly. Because there's no pain getting a letter that you're allowed for giving 14 hours a week or seven hours a week or nine hours. And then no one show up to help that person. That doesn't work in this world at the moment. And families are left in, you know, basically scrabbling, trying to make sure that their loved ones are looked after. And I think that carers right around the country should be recognised for the amount of work they do, the effort they make, and what they do say of the state. I think that's ferociously important. In the Fair Deal, the Fair Deal, I welcomed the new move in the Fair Deal a few years ago in relation to succession and all of that. But there is anomalies that's happening. You know, who is succession? That's the first thing. I see, and I know Deputy Flynn spoke about it, if you're heading over the farm, if you were a couple that had children or whatever, there's a huge problem there. But also in the Fair Deal. We see in a lot of farms around the country, there might be somebody that their son or daughter might have gone to a different country or they might be in Dublin for X amount of years. Just one second. But then, they might lease the land. And if you lease the land, you're in trouble. So I would ask you, Minister, to look at this, because it's ferociously important to help. Deputy O' Flynn, thank you.