• Carers of the Year Awards 2012
• Carers of the Year Awards 2010
• Conferences
• International Walk
• Listening to Carers 2012
  • Online Submission
• National Carers Week
• Pre-Budget Submissions

Listening to Carers 2012

We need to know what you think …

The coming months will be a critical time for Family Carers in Ireland.

In terms of policy, the Government has assigned a team of civil servants to resume drafting the National Carers Strategy. It is also in negotiations with the funding troika about a restructuring of social protection payments to people of working age. These two developments are likely to determine the impact of Budget 2013 and subsequent years on the income and general welfare of family carers.

At the same time as these strategic issues are being decided, individual carers are under siege from operational policies such as the current review of the domiciliary care allowance. We are struggling to address the volume of cases that are coming to our attention. Whilst we accept the principle of such reviews we are strongly challenging the fundamental unfairness of certain aspects of the application and review process.

Against this background it is vital that we are able to produce comprehensive and up-to-date evidence about the circumstances of family carers throughout Ireland in 2012. And so, with this in mind, we plan to repeat the 'Listening to Carers' exercise last carried out in 2007 by organising a series of meetings in strategic locations during March and April. Dates and venues are outlined below.

These forums will give you, the Carer, an opportunity to tell us what you would like to have included in your National Carers Strategy. The meetings will also afford you an opportunity to feed into your organisation’s Strategic Plan by giving us your thoughts on how the Association can best continue to support and advocate for Ireland’s family carers. 

This will be a very important initiative and I would ask as many of you as possible to participate in the events in your local area. Please contact your local centre to confirm your attendance and with any special requirements. 

Looking forward to meeting you all at the events.

John Dunne

Acting C.E.O.

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