Dublin South West Sinn F\u00e9in TD, Se\u00e1n Crowe, has voiced his support to the Give Carers a Break Campaign<\/i> launched by The Carers Association this week.<\/p>\n
Deputy Crowe said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis campaign, launched by The Carers Association, is appealing for the public\u2019s support in calling on Government to review the cut to the respite care grant and stop cutting vital supports and services for family carers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI fully support this campaign and call on the current Government to review its cruel and damaging cuts to carers.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past 18 months Ireland\u2019s 187,000 family carers have suffered the loss of more than one million hours of vital respite services, the virtual abolition of the housing adaptation grant, a 19 per cent cut in the Respite Care Grant and the announcement of the elimination of the mobility allowance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese cuts clearly show that the Government is not sticking to its stated policy of allowing people to be cared for and grow old in their own homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is completely unacceptable that Government continues to target this vulnerable group with cuts and makes no sense, given the increased pressures this creates on our health services when family carers are forced to put loved ones into care.<\/p>\n
\u201cCutting respite care is a new low, its wrong, its unjustifiable, its mean spirited and it has to be reversed.<\/p>\n
ENDS<\/p>\n