43 per cent of Government’s National Carers’ Strategy’s objectives have seen acceptable progress - Family Carers Ireland publishes final ‘Score Card’ on the National Carers’ Strategy 12/9/2017 Family Carers Ireland today launches its fourth ‘Family Carers’ Scorecard’ (2.6 MB) reviewing progress of the National Carers’ Strategy and appealing for a new, funded strategy in Budget 2018. Ireland’s first National Carers’ Strategy, published in 2012, has now run its […]
Homecare consultation welcome but must meet broad spectrum of needs - Family Carers Ireland welcomes launch of consultation on a new home care scheme, however says scheme must meet a broad spectrum of needs Family Carers Ireland welcomes Minister for Health, Simon Harris, and Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly’s opening of a public consultation on home care services. However, the […]
Family Carers Ireland Regional Carers’ Forums 2017 - Family Carers Ireland’s 2017 Regional Carers’ Forums will take place over the coming fortnight. These Forums offer the opportunity for staff around the country to engage with and listen to carers, and to address both regional and national issues of importance to them. Each forum will feature a discussion of the Strategic Plan for the organisation, and include […]
CarePlus Carer of the Year Awards are launched as new figures indicate Family Carers save the state €10 billion annually. - Family Carers Ireland with CarePlus Pharmacy has today launched their CarePlus Carer of the Year and Young Carers of the Year Awards. The event took place in Dublin’s Westin Hotel and a number of past nominees including young family carers were in attendance. The awards, sponsored by CarePlus Pharmacy, recognise the dedication of Ireland’s invisible […]
Consultation on Home Care: Document from NGOs - A discussion document relating to the recently-announced public consultation on a statutory home care scheme has been produced by relevant NGOs including Family Carers Ireland. The document outlines areas which these NGOs believe any statutory home care scheme must address. The document can be read here.
Cancellation of National Carers Convention 25/03/17 - Due to large numbers of carers and groups being unable to travel tomorrow in light of strikes, Family Carers Ireland has had to cancel the scheduled National Carers Convention in the Ashling Hotel, Dublin on 25th March. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. The Convention will be rescheduled for later in the year.
Consultation on a Statutory Homecare Scheme Launched - On January 16th, Minister Helen McEntee announced that a consultation process is to be launched with a view to establishing a new statutory homecare scheme. She emphasised that for many the best care possible can be provided in their own homes, surrounded by the people and communities that they love. Minister McEntee stated that the scheme […]
Changes to the PRSI Voluntary Contribution Scheme – what does this mean and will it affect me as a carer? - Your Questions Answered I’ve heard about changes to the PRSI Voluntary Contribution Scheme – what does this mean and will it affect me as a carer? If you’ve had to give up work, or take extended periods away from work because of your caring responsibilities, your entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory) may be affected. […]
Digital Skills for Citizens Initiative: Free Online Training - Family Carers Ireland was among fifteen organisations awarded funding from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment under their Digital Skills for Citizens Programme. The Department describes the purpose of the scheme: “The internet is a wonderful resource and it’s for everybody. However, almost one in six Irish adults has never used the internet. The […]
‘Share the Care’ campaign launched! - Family Carers Ireland Launch ‘Share the Care’ Campaign – Highlighting Vital Role Carers Play in Society Family Carers Ireland state carers can no longer be expected to fill the gap in what is an underfunded and under resourced system – the care needs to be shared Monday 27th February: Family Carers Ireland (FCI) today launched […]
“Share the Care”: FCI’s Year of the Carer 2017 - Family Carers Ireland is aiming to make 2017 the “Year of the Carer”. In our first full year as an organisation since the merger between The Carers Association and Caring for Carers, we are hoping to increase awareness among the public of the issues dealt with by family carers and to ensure they are recognised, […]
PRSI Reforms to Voluntary Contribution Scheme - Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar yesterday announced changes to the PRSI Voluntary Contribution Scheme, extending the period people can decide to make voluntary contributions from 1 year to 5 years. This is an important change for carers who have to give up work to provide care but do not qualify for a Carer’s Allowance. […]
Family Carers Ireland welcomes proposed amendment to the Nursing Home Support Scheme and insists funding is needed urgently for Home Care - Friday 27th January: Family Carers Ireland has today welcomed Deputy O’ Dea’s Nursing Home Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill, which was discussed in the Dáil last night. The Bill proposes that, where an applicant is approved for the Fair Deal scheme, the alternative of home care services should be made available, where such home care services […]
News from Europe: Italy’s “After Us” Legislation - Italy has recently passed its “Dopo Di Noi” (“After Us”) legislation, the aim of which is to secure the future of adults with intellectual or other disabilities after their parents or other carers pass on. The bill addresses an anxiety shared and frequently highlighted by parents who care for adult children in Ireland. The bill […]
NDA-funded Study of Resilience in Family Carers of Adults with an Intellectual Disability - Publication of a research study exploring resilience in family carers of adults with an intellectual disability, funded by the National Disability Authority, was announced on December 12th. The project was led by Dr Attracta Lafferty of the School of Nursing and Midwifery in University College Dublin, with assistance from Bianca Van Bavel of UCD and […]
Irish Health Survey 2015 - The Central Statistics Office recently released the results of the Irish Health Survey 2015. The survey suggested that up to 1 in 10 people were providing care for another person, and it incorporated analysis of deprivation levels which showed some correlation between prevalence and intensity of caring responsibilities and deprivation. Analysts of these data and data […]
10th Annual Carers of the Year Awards - On Wednesday 16th November, Family Carers Ireland hosted its 10th annual Carers of the Year Awards. Sponsored by Tunstall Emergency Response, the awards celebrate the dedication and commitment of the 200,000 family carers across Ireland. Twenty-five regional family carers were presented with special awards and Dorothy Meaney from Dooradoyle, Limerick was announced as Ireland’s Carer […]
Presentation to Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Future of Healthcare - The Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare was established as a cross-party, non-partisan committee tasked with formulating a strategy for healthcare in Ireland over the next decade and beyond. Its Chairperson is Roisin Shortall TD. Following on from the Long-Term Care Forum facilitated by SAGE/Third Age Ireland, at which representatives from Family Carers Ireland […]
Invest in Home Care Event - On September 27th, a grouping of Ireland’s leading not-for-profit organisations and campaigners came together to call for increased investment in home care. Carers Shirley Thornton and Moira Skelly outlined to an audience in Buswells Hotel how the cutting of home care and home respite hours had negatively impacted their lives; and Sinead McArdle from Ardee, […]
Prime Time Carers Segment - RTE’s Prime Time did a profile of three sets of carers and their loved ones on Thursday, December 15th. Featured on the show were Carer of the Year Dorothy Meaney and her daughter Zondra; young mother Lisa Marie Hodgins-McMasters and her seven year-old daughter; and husband and wife Owen O’Neill and Phyllis from Co. Kilkenny. […]
