Leave scheme for carers to be extended

Measures aimed at providing carers with greater flexibility to participate in the workforce are to be introduced by the Government, it emerged yesterday.

It is planned that the carers' leave scheme - which allows for the protection of a carer's employment rights for the duration of the caring period - will be extended to two years.

Separately, Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan has announced adjustments to the carers' allowance and annual respite grant so benefits can be shared among more than one carer.

Mr Brennan made the announcement yesterday at the launch of the Equality Authority report, Implementing Equality for Carers, which pointed to the need for the State's estimated 150,000 family carers to be given more support by the State.

The report's 42 recommendations include the need to increase service provision and supports for carers, such as homecare packages, as well as a structured assessment of carers' needs that should complement the existing assessment process.

The report was welcomed by the two main representative groups for carers, the Carers' Association and Care Alliance Ireland, which called for the recommendations to be implemented.

Mr Brennan said the greater flexibility in providing support for carers, as well as increases in the carers' allowance and respite care grants announced in the Budget, illustrated the Government's commitment to recognising their contribution.

"These are but the first steps in achieving our vision of a co-ordinated, comprehensive, accessible and sustainable system of delivering services and supports in the community to people who need care and their carers," Mr Brennan said.

Family and informal care was a "cornerstone" of future long-term care policy. He added that the Government would be looking at issues highlighted in the Equality Authority report, such as the requirements of carers in a needs assessment process, the further development of respite services and additional training for carers.

Enda Egan of the Carers' Association said more State support packages were needed to help all family carers.

"The development of a national strategy to ensure a fair deal for carers and to put such packages in place is now imperative and this report reinforces this message to Government," he said.

Liam O'Sullivan, national development officer for Care Alliance Ireland, said one of the most important issues was the lack of a statutory right to home care services.

"The result is that geographical location or presence on a hospital trolley may influence whether or not home care services are made available," he said. "This is totally unacceptable."