This article is from page 11 of the 2012-03-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
MORE than 4,500 family carers from Clare are “under siege”, according to an advocacy group that is urging them to stand up and be counted.
The county’s dedicated family carers provide more than 99,000 hours of care every week, saving the local social economy more than € 67 million every year, yet this year they faced cuts to their social welfare support.
The Carers Association claim that these carers are under siege as the Government reviews policies, including the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
The Government is currently reviving the National Carers Strategy, put on hold due to budgetary constraints in 2009.
As a result the Carers Association is urging carers across Clare to attend its upcoming ‘Listening to Carers’ forum and have their say.
This forum, being held as part of a number of events around the country, will give family carers the opportunity to tell The Carers Association what they would like included in the National Carers Strategy as well as inform Government policy.
“Given the current crisis faced by family carers in relation to cuts on Domiciliary Care payments, it is now more important than ever that their voices are heard. We are urging carers across Clare to come to our forum and have their say to inform Governmental Policy and the National Carers Strategy” said Catherine Cox, Communications Manager of The Carers Association.
The Carers Association’s ‘Listening to Carers’ forum for carers from Limerick, Clare and Tipperary will be held in Limerick’s South Court Hotel on Monday, March 26 from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm. This will include a presentation from The Carers Association and workshops to get the views of family carers.
“There are an estimated 161,000 family carers in Ireland, providing over three million hours of care per week and saving the state almost four billion euro every year. The Carers Association works towards recognition, empowerment and a better quality of life for Ireland’s family carers,” said Ms Cox.