Call to raise home support allowance

Calls to increase the Home Support Grant, currently set at €13.88 per hour, were made at the February meeting of Cavan County Council.

Cllr Áine Smith (FF) made the call to the Minister for Health to increase this rate so it “at least matches” the national minimum wage of €14.15 per hour, and reflects the rising cost of living.

She praised the “huge contribution” made by home support workers, who provide “essential care and support” to older people, people with disabilities, and those living with illness.

Cllr Smith said their work allows people to stay in their own homes and communities, in familiar surroundings, with the support they need to live “safely, independently, and with dignity”.

“Most people want to remain at home for as long as possible,” she said, adding that this approach “makes sense” for the health service as it “reduces unnecessary hospital admissions” and “prevents” the need for expensive long-term residential care.

It is becoming “increasingly difficult” to source and retain home carers, Cllr Smith said, describing how providers are “struggling” to fill shifts.

She believes paying a grant rate below minimum wage does not reflect the “responsibility and demands” of the role and makes it “harder” to attract workers into a sector where “demand continues to grow”.

“Raising the Home Support Grant rate is a practical and sensible step to support workers, protect services, and ensure people can continue to live at home with the care they need,” she said. Cllr Smith called on the government to “properly recognise” the value of home support workers.

Cllr Damien Brady (SF) said carers go “way above and beyond”, and gave his full support to the motion.

Meanwhile Cllr Carmel Brady (FG) said these people are “especially” needed in “rural areas”.

Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley (FF) said for some, home is “where they want to be rather than in a nursing home”.

Her motion received support from Cllr Trevor Smith (FG), Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF), Cllr Niall Smith (FF), Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind) and Cllr Niamh Brady (FG).