Hanafin tries to bury axed National Carers’ Strategy behind appalling Exchequer deficit - Enright

Fine Gael National Press Office Press Statement
Leinster House Contact: Olwyn Enright TD
Dublin 2 Nick Miller Social & Family Affairs
Ireland (01) 618 3358 / 086 6992080

Tuesday 3rd March 2009

Hanafin tries to bury axed National Carers' Strategy behind appalling
Exchequer deficit - Enright

Fine Gael Social & Family Affairs Spokeswoman Olwyn Enright TD has
accused Mary Hanafin of trying to bury her decision to axe the National
Carers' Strategy by timing the announcement with the release of some of
the worst Exchequer figures in the history of the State.

"This is an appalling decision from Minister Hanafin and is an act of
betrayal after years of promises. But just as bad is her decision to
time the announcement with the release of some of the worst Exchequer
figures ever seen in Ireland. This is a clear attempt by the Minister to
bury the news.

"The Government has known for weeks that the new Exchequer figures were
likely to be very devastating.

"More than 161,000 carers across Ireland had pinned their hopes on the
promise to set up a National Carers' Strategy, as set out in the
Programme for Government, and supposed to be up and running by the end
of 2007. The Government failed to meet this target in 2007 and is now
hiding behind the current economic situation.

"Does Minister Hanafin not realise that carers put in 3.5 million hours
every week, saving the State an estimated €2.1 billion per annum. And
only one in six of them, a mere 27,000, qualify for the Carers'
Allowance. This is the thanks they get from the Government.

"The development of a National Carers' Strategy was supposed to fully
address serious the ongoing shortfalls in services, supports and
entitlements for carers. Yes, we are in changed economic times but
surely that does not prevent the publication of a document? At the very
least it could have been a blueprint for best practice when the economy
begins to recover.

"This decision is a direct result of the economic crisis into which the
Fianna Fáil Government has plunged the entire country. It is a shameless
decision. But not anywhere near as shameless as Minister Hanafin's
deliberate attempt to bury the news."

Ends

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