Family Carers Ireland has called on the government to recognise the vital role of family carers during Covid-19 in helping to keep loved ones safe by extending the €1,000 Covid bonus to all full time family carers.
Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy, Family Carers Ireland says “our frontline workers have worked incredibly hard to keep the health system running under severe pressure from covid and emergency care and they deserve this recognition.
What strikes me most is that this is yet again another missed opportunity to show family carers, once and for all, that the Government recognises their value and contribution in society and acknowledge them as the forgotten frontline workers that they are.
Family carers were overlooked when it came to the provision of PPE, priority testing and vaccination. They continue to suffer burnout and serious ill-health caused by the stress and strain of their care work. The role they’ve played in keeping their loved ones safe and the impact on their own mental and financial wellbeing continues to be ignored.
The simple fact is that an extra bank holiday will be of no help to them. In fact, it will potentially increase the burden of care as schools and day services will close”.
