Graves calls on government to scrap means testing for carers

Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, the Dublin Fingal East TD said “this government should hang their heads in shame,” and accused them of going back on their promises.

“In the run up to the recent general election they promised to scrap the means test. 4 months after the election they have done nothing. No plan, no detail, no timeline.”

“This government are too busy making grubby deals to actually address the needs of struggling families,” she remarked.

“Sinn Féin were abundantly clear during the general election. We were committed to scrapping this unfair means test. And yes, we would have scrapped it by now.”

Graves told the Dáil “I see every day the valuable and essential work done by carers, I also see how they are struggling. This is a 24/7 job with little support or respite.”

“In fact, in my own family my daughter was the carer for my mother. Right up until the end of my mother’s life she looked after her. My mother could stay in the family home, living with dignity close to family and loved ones and never wanting for anything.”

She said that “the government needs to listen and young carers, in particular, need to be heard.”

“They are looking after siblings and parents while truing to continue their education, when they can.  In many cases with little or no support.  The impacts on their health and well being is well documented.  They are dealing with caring responsibilities when their peers are developing and living their lives.  This needs to be recognised.”

The Sinn Féin TD said that carers save the Irish state €20 billion in additional healthcare costs, but remarked “the mean miserly politics of this government would rather ignore that fact.”

“I am asking the Minister to do the right thing. Scrap the means test and increase carers allowance and support young care givers”