Mattie McGrath blasts government over carers' crisis
Mattie McGrath criticised the government's handling of carers' services, focusing on closed respite beds, recruitment spending and the impact on child carers. He argued the HSC and the department have failed carers and called for urgent support while praising local care organisations.
Main criticisms
McGrath accused the government and the HSC of being tone-deaf and of abdicating responsibility for carers, calling recent decisions shameful and pitiful and warning that voters will hold them to account.
Respite bed closures
He highlighted the closure of respite beds in Carrick and Shure Hospital that served local communities, saying the move exposes a mindset within the department that neglects carers' needs.
Recruitment spending questioned
McGrath said tens of millions are being spent each year on recruitment and that private companies are receiving tens of millions to recruit despite an alleged failure to fill posts.
Impact on child carers
He raised concern about children who care for relatives and grandparents, saying they should be in school and playing rather than performing unpaid caring duties.
Praise for local carers and groups
McGrath saluted local carers and Councillor Richard Mullally of the South Tipperary Care Association, noting their fundraising, lobbying and community efforts to keep services going amid uncertainty.
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Good, I too would like to thank the independent group and compliment him on bringing forward this motion. I know the government is opposing it. I hope it's just not another one of these that you don't oppose it, but you do nothing about it. Because the carers, we have to salute them. I wear the carers badge as often as I can, it's only a small thing, in comparison to the strenuous and aridish work the carers do. But the Bregardian are getting from the HSC, you department minister, I know if Minister Butler is gone, like there's no off the Cumber Mountains, she's here, we're coming in, she can't face us. She closed respite beds in Carrick and Shure Hospital that serve their own area. So that gives us some idea of the mindset within government. Tens of millions are being spent each year in recruitment. Private companies are getting tens of millions to recruit. So there's an abject failure, they're not recruiting, so why are they getting the money? Also child care. There are so many children caring for their loved ones and grandparents, but they should be in school. They should be out playing and it's not fair to them. So there's many anomalies. And as I said, the care reduces valuable work. And they are outdated, the wasteful HSC. People are getting over half a million. They're totally out of touch, tone deaf as to what's happened in the country, minister. And you'll find that out when you go knocking on the doors. They'll be waiting in the long grass for you. If there's any bit of grass because you haven't fertilised it to grow. But they'll be waiting for you because you have totally abdicated responsibility. All you want to do is sell global masters in Europe and to hell with the Dine, to hell with the ordinary people. We'll all need carers someday because many of us may have different needs and we'll know then. It's shameful. It's pitiful. I want to salute Councillor Richard Mullally, one of my own councillors in Tipperary, manager of South Tipperary Care Association, and his gallant team, and the people, and the uncertainty that they have, and the begging bowl that they have out, and the lobbying they have to do, and the fundraising, and walks, you name it, and coffee malls to try and keep themselves going. It's shameful. Thank you.
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