Pre-Budget Submissions
Pre Budget 2013 Submission - Cost Neutral Proposals for Building a Brighter Future for Ireland's Family Carers
Click here to read The Carers Association's Pre-Budget 2013 Submission
Pre-Budget 2012 Submission - "If you dont care, how can we?" -
Read our Pre-Budget 2012 Submission - "If you dont care, how can we?"
Pre-Budget 2011 Submission - Protecting Ireland's Invisible Workforce - October 2010
The Carers Association held their pre budget briefing for Oireachtas members on Wednesday October 13th 2010.
Click here to read The Carers Association's Pre-Budget 2011 Submission
CEO, Enda Egan speaking with RTE at Pre Budget Submission 2011.
Pre-Budget Submission - November 2009
Our Pre Budget Submission to the Government took place on Wednesday 11th November 2009. The Carers Association asked Government not to cut vital social welfare payments for carers in Budget 2010, as proposed in the McCarthy report. Following Government’s decision not to publish the long-awaited National Carers Strategy, the organisation is particularly concerned that Government may eliminate or close to new applicants the half-rate Carers Allowance introduced in 2007.
Approximately 18,500 family carers receive the half-rate Carers Allowance of €110 per week in recognition of the full-time care they provide and to help with the many costs of care. To qualify for this payment, carers must be in receipt of another social welfare payment such as the state pension and provide fulltime, high-dependency care, which is often in excess of 50 hours per week. The allowance of €110 would only provide five hours of care per week at market value and The Carers Association is urging Government not to cut this payment or close it to new applicants. The organisation is also asking Government to consider the cumulative effects of proposed cuts on family carers, including cuts to other social welfare payments, the suspension of the Christmas bonus and reductions in many health services.
Roisin Shortall, Labour TD, Family Carer Alison McKim, Mary Upton, Labour TD, Jan O'Sullivan, Labour TD and John McGuinness, Fine Fail TD pictured meeting Zack McKim at his home. Also present was Joe Behan TD. 
New this year, The Carers Association invited Ministers, TD's and Senator's to visit family Carer Alison McKim in her own home in Terenure on the "Care Bus". Alison is a single mum who provides full-time care for her son Zack (17). Zack has Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Asthma and is blind. He is completely dependent on Alison for all his needs. Alison receives the lone parents allowance and the half-rate carers allowance while Zack receives a disability payment.
 | "Equality and Justice for Family Carers. Can we afford them?" |
| The Carers Association Pre Budget Submission 20 | |
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