AROUND 200 FAMILY carers are expected to protest outside the Dáil today demanding the immediate restoration of the 19 per cent cut to the Respite Care Grant announced in the Budget last Wednesday.
The Department of Social Protection intends to cut the annual payment from €1,700 to €1,325 next year.
Catherine Cox, Communications Manager of The Carers Association says family carers across Ireland are very “frustrated and angry” with this cut and are asking for its immediate reversal.
The protests will take place at 1 pm.
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton said the payment was “regrettable” and noted that it was now back to 2006 levels.
The Carers Association Ireland say there are around 187,112 family carers, contributing €11 million per day, providing 900,000 hours of care daily and saving the state €4 billion each year. Census 2011 also found that 21 per cent of family carers provide over 43 hours of care per week.
The protest comes after a similar demonstration, of over 100 people, at Leinster House last Friday.
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