Sir, – The photograph by Mark Stedman in The Irish Times (July 6th) of one of the thousands of carers who "contribute six million hours per week", relieving the State of its duty to care for the infirm, vulnerable and weak, was uplifting.
That figure equates to 312 million hours annually, a truly astonishing figure.
Even at the minimum wage, that would be a financial “contribution” in excess of €2 billion, approaching the entire “fiscal space” being trumpeted by the Government.
Those 312 million hours are not “spare time” forgone; they constitute, in many cases, “24/7” commitment, and any respite they receive is minimal and grudging.
Family carers give up any semblance of a social life, suffer considerable stress, and sacrifice much of their privacy. Younger carers also sacrifice invaluable family time, meaning that their children also contribute to easing the State’s conscience.
Of course, those being cared for have little voting power, and those caring for them have little time to protest or to organise politically; they are too busy doing what the State has failed to do: care. – Yours, etc,
JOHN McENEANEY,
Celbridge, Co Kildare.