Debate over lack of available carers

Fianna Fáil’s Aiden Fitzpatrick has described as concerning the growing lack of available carers available in the county.

He told the April monthly meeting of elected members that he had received representations from a large number of people looking for careers or needing their hours filled, but when they went looking there was nobody available.

Asking that the council write to the relevant authorities or department, Cllr Fitzpatrick asked that a recruitment drive be put in place in order to increase the number of carers available to families or persons in need across the county.

“At this time there are 6000 patients awaiting careers. Half are waiting for a new service, and half looking for additional hours,” he lamented, while stating that more innovative measures needed to be introduced in order to attract new people into the roles. “We need job sharing. For example, mornings only or evenings only, four days on and four days off as a choice, and to have travel expenses to cover wear and tear on vehicles as some of the routes these carers are travelling are very challenging.”

He asked that the level of remuneration be increased also, highlighting that at a time when Ireland is being “affected by immigration and emigration we need to train those new people entering our country to fill these very necessary vacancies in the caring profession”.

“These are jobs our own people don’t want to do,” said Cllr Fitzpatrick.

Greater care and attention too needs to be given to current carers “so as to maintain the valuable service they give. The 2022 census figures show that the highest increase in our population – 26% – has been in the over 70s age bracket. Ireland is entering a demographic sea change. Longevity is to be celebrated and can deliver so many positives for families and communities, but it also means that we must shift our political and social priorities to reflect this new reality. Failure to grasp this issue will lead to a generation of our older and more vulnerable being left to fend for themselves in providing for their care.”

Party colleague Craig Lovett supported the motion, as did Fine Gae’s TP O’Reilly and Áine Smith (FF).

Sinn Féin’s Paddy McDonald stated said that first and foremost the level of pay differential between public paid HSE care staff and private sector workers needed to be narrowed. John Paul Feeley (FF) said the subject had been raised before.

There was support too for the motion from Patricia Walsh (FF) and Independent Brendan Fay.