Michael Fitzmaurice: Challenges Means Test and Demands Carer Support

The first thing is, we would hear the Department of Finance talking that it will cost X amount if we get rid of the means test. If these carers decided that their loved ones, if they looked for putting them into a nursing home, to cost the state £1,100 every week, that is the fact suit. They are actually saving the state about €800 to €900 every week. I have been in here for 10 or 11 debates and carers and everyone agrees with it, but the problem is nothing is changing. If a youngster wanted to go to college because of this means test and the way that it is done you have to do so many hours, they could help their loved one in the morning, they could be near a college and come home in the middle of the day and in the evening, but just because they are going to college, oh you don't fit this criteria because you have to be there for so many hours. Even though there is over 140 hours a week and they believe that while they are gone for a few hours they are not entitled. That is not the way to look after people. Second of all, we see it day in day out, people that give up their jobs and maybe someone belonging to them has a fairly good job, but this means tests straight away are ruled out. I cannot for the life of me understand how the Department of Finance will throw out this every time there is a debate going on, they will say it will cost us over a billion. But do you know what, I read in the paper last week or the week before that we as a country are prepared to throw 700 million to Europe out of our kitty for arms or for basically boosting Europe. But we are not prepared to look after the people that are helping others in this country. And I think as a Dáil and as a people we should be basically looking at ourselves and which should we put first, should we put and reward and help and recognise those people that are sacrificing their own lives by helping others and also helping the state and we are not giving them basically the opportunity or the recognition that they deserve. Someone that stands up here will talk about carers, all the great work to do, but at the end of the day it is about pounds, shillings and pence. That is what keeps you going and it is no point walking into a shop saying I am a great person that I look after my appearance or whatever. That does not get you food, that does not help you pay rent. We either decide once and for all, I would say it is the 11th or the 12th debate I have been in here about carers and everyone goes out the door and then we move on again and there will be another one in a few months time and everyone will stand up. It is time now that the Government here that decides are they going to do something or are they not. It is recognised, I know under a programme for Government that they are going to do something. But like a programme for Government, how long is a piece of string? A programme for Government is five years. Is it going to be in June or July or is it going to be in four and a half years times June or July? This is the facts and these are the things that need answered. In my opinion there is enough of a debate in doing about it, everyone knows the problem. It is about the Department of Finance deciding that in the budget that they put in the funding that is required and I will tell you I would vote for it an awful lot sooner than I would decide that we are going to go throwing money to Europe of 700 million for arms or something rather than making sure that we look after our own people. There is a lot of things in this country we need to address, homelessness, carers, a lot of stuff and people not even having a house and we would swear there were printing money for other things there. Thank you. Thank you very much.