Press Statement from Frances Fitzgerald MEP
Thursday 6th October 2022
Recent spate of nursing home closures shows urgent need for an Irish Commission on Care says Fitzgerald
On this European Carers Day, Ireland must implement the European Care Strategy and show its commitment to Carers
Closure of 12 private nursing homes in recent weeks described as a "wake-up call" by Nursing Homes Ireland
On this European Carers Day, the 6th of October, Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald has called on the Irish government to establish a new Commission on Care as a matter of urgency . This follows last month's publication of the first-ever 'European Care Strategy' and commitment in the 2020 Programme for Government to establish such a Commission on Care in Ireland.
Reports demonstrate that 12 private nursing homes have closed their doors in recent weeks, which has been described as a "wake up call" by nursing homes Ireland.
Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEP Fitzgerald said, “Last month the EU clearly demonstrated its commitment to carers and those being cared for with its publication of a comprehensive EU care strategy to tackle accessibility, affordability and availability of long-term care and childcare. This is something I had long campaigned for as an MEP, along with others, and I was pleased to see progress being made. The European Parliament had led the way in calling for action in this area from the European Commission.
"Building on the welcome measures announced for Carers in Budget 2023 last week it is now time for the Irish government to renew its commitment to Carers by establishing a Commission on Care which will assess how we care for older people and examine alternatives to meet the diverse needs of our older citizens. The recent closures of 12 nursing home facilities demonstrate that decisive action is needed to support those people who require care in our society. The pace of work in establishing the Commission on Care as promised needs to be increased rapidly
"We need a Europe that cares about its carers. Across the EU, including in Ireland, our carers do selfless work but often without the appreciation they deserve from society. "This Commission on Care will compliment the ground-breaking 'European Care Strategy' and will demonstrate how practical EU initiatives can support work at national level", MEP Fitzgerald concluded.
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