Minister for Health Simon Harris promises €10 million in funding for carers next year

The Minister for Health says €10 million is to be put into the new Respite Initiative.

Updated: 11.10am, 29 November  Family Carers Ireland has welcomed with caution Minister Simon Harris' announcement that carers receiving Carer's Allowance will be entitled to a free GP Visit Card and that €10m is to be put into respite care in 2018. The charity said, "these are welcome signals that carers issues are becoming a focus of Government action", but pointed out that only one in four carers currently receive the allowance. In their statement, they asked that the measure include all full-time carers, saying: "We are accordingly calling for all carers in receipt of the Carer's Support Grant to receive this card, which would bring over 20,000 more into the net." "We must also question why it will take up to six months to implement, and note the issue of cost of medication and prescriptions that will remain." FCI also said that the extra €10m was "a step in the right direction", but they said that there is a larger issue to address as the funding "will not be sufficient to tackle the crisis that exists for carers in gaining access to regular respite breaks and emergency respite provision". It had been announced that €8 million is to be put into 12 respite houses across the country, but FCI say this will remain "a postcode lottery". Carers receiving Carer's Allowance will be automatically entitled to a GP visit card, announced Minister for Health, Simon Harris, on Tuesday. Part of a new series of health service measures due to be implemented in 2018, the Minister also confirmed that an additional €10 million would be given in funding to give respite care for people with disabilities. This Respite Initiative will see €8 million given to 12 respite houses nationwide, with these consisting of one in every Community Health Area and three in the greater Dublin area due to its high demand for respite. The Minister went on to say that these additional 12 respite houses will provide approximately 19,000 respite nights per year to the people living in each area for a full year. €2million in extra funding is also to be used for innovative respite solutions, including Home Sharing and extended day services. https://twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD/status/940621550159650816 Commenting on this agreement, Minister Harris said: "We have all witnessed the strain that many families are under in caring for their loved ones, a role which is taken on without any hesitation. However, carers themselves also require our support and I am delighted that we have been able to allocate additional funding to improve respite care services and to ensure that all carers can access GP services without charge." Minister for Disability Issues Finian McGrath said that he is "aware of the pressure on carers of people with disabilities who are often under tremendous strain to keep going. "I hope that this funding will enable them to get a well-deserved break and to maintain their own health and well-being," McGrath said. "I will be requiring the HSE to give the utmost priority to putting these new facilities and services in place without delay and to provide me with regular reports so I can ensure this additional funding is directly targeted at the people who need it most.” Minister for the Elderly, Jim Daly TD also gave credit to disability carers, saying: “[The] Government recognises and acknowledges the immense sacrifices that carers make on a daily basis and the commitment and compassion that they show to ensure the continued health and well-being of their loved ones. "Enabling carers to access GP services free of charge reflects this Government’s continued commitment to ensure that carers have access to services that will also protect their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.”