We now, though, need to see this translated into action from the government to deliver the substantive issues raised within the motion such as:
- the delivery of further services and supports,
- the raising of the income disregard for Carers Allowance,
- an increase the annual Carers Support Grant,
- increasing the Carer’s Allowance and Carers Benefit,
- establishing a discretionary fund for Covid-19 utility debt,
- the introduction of an automatic GP card for those receiving the Carer’s Support Grant,
- the doubling of public expenditure on respite,
- prioritising the reopening of day services, and
- the standardisation of free transport to and from day services.
The fact, however, that the government only yesterday evening completely ignored the plea from family carers once again to be included in the vaccine roll-out and then today chose not to oppose this motion while knowing that a place on the vaccine roll-out for family carers was a central part of the motion smacks of cynical politics to me.
