The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Seamus Brennan TD, today launched a new report from the Equality Authority on ‘Implementing Equality for Carers’.
The 2002 census identified almost 150,000 carers in Ireland. More than half of Irish people will experience some caring responsibilities during their lifetime. The census found that over half of carers (57%) provided 14 hours or less of care work per week and that over one quarter of carers (27%) provided 43 hours or more of care work per week. Carers provide essential services on an unpaid basis often with limited choice.
Speaking at the launch Niall Crowley, Chief Executive of the Equality Authority, highlighted that “the report presents a key policy challenge to achieve a new sharing of caring between carers and the state and to challenge the current approach where the role of the State has been primarily a residual one with an expectation that families provide care with little State support. This is evident in the underdeveloped nature and uneven spread of community care services”. He noted the need “for a new valuing of caring by society, local communities and institutions given that there is a strong consensus among carers that carers and the caring role are not valued. This deficit in valuing caring is evident in inadequate income supports for carers, carers’ experiences of isolation and a sense that their voice is not heard in decision making”. He also emphasised that “implementing equality for carers needs to be based on promoting independence, autonomy and choice for carers and for people who need care”.
The report presents a broad ranging strategy to enhance the situation and experience of carers. It covers employment, income, health and social care services, lifelong learning, status and participation.
Employment
The Report recommends a focus on carers in labour market policy and that carers have access to appropriate flexible working arrangements in the workplace.
Income
The Report recommends that the level of income supports for carers should better reflect the work that they do and the employment related income they may lose because of their care work.
Health and social care services
The Report recommends increases in the availability and flexibility of home and community care services to meet the needs of people with disabilities and older people who need care. It recommends the development of initiatives to address carers own needs including providing carers with an entitlement to needs assessment.
Lifelong learning
The Report recommends flexibilities in the provision of education and training to facilitate access by carers.
Status
The Report recommends the development of an impact assessment process to ensure all public policy and programmes take account of carer needs. It recommends an amendment to the definition of carers under the family status ground in equality legislation to better reflect the diversity of caring situations.
Participation
The Report recommends the inclusion of carers and carer organisations in fora to guide the development of such as health policy and programmes, education and training provision, employment action plans and local government planning and provision. It recommends the provision of adequate resources to carer organisations to participate in these fora.
In conclusion Niall Crowley stated that “there is a need to link up and further develop these different policy areas and programmes into a strategy that is capable of addressing the needs of a diversity of carers and caring situations. We hope that the recommendations in the report will stimulate, inform and shape a new strategy for equality for carers”.
The Equality Authority is mandated to promote equality and eliminate discrimination in the workplace and in the provision of goods and services.