Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell has criticised the government for excluding carers from the pandemic bonus of €1,000 for frontline health and ambulance workers.
An equivalent payment will also be provided for relevant staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19, but this will not include carers.
Deputy Farrell said that she welcomes the moves to provide a frontline bonus for ‘those who worked so hard and gave so much during the pandemic’.
She said that this was badly needed and well deserved, as frontline workers often had to operate in risky and difficult environments.
“However, it is very regrettable that our hard-working carers have been left behind, especially given how much they suffered during the pandemic,” said the Sinn Féin TD.
“These people were on the frontlines during the pandemic and without their work, the government would have been in a real predicament.”
She said that these carers lost their day service, their respite, and their unofficial respite in the form of help from grandparents and other family members when they were required to isolate at home.
“Their inclusion in the bonus could have made a real difference and, given recognition to their hard work, which is often overlooked, I am calling on the government and Minister McGrath to reconsider their exclusion,” said the Galway TD.
