Sir, - Mary McGoldrick (June 3rd) expresses the despair of many of the more than 100,000 informal carers, who very willingly and with love, are looking after a dependant person in their own home. Many must feel that no-one cares for them.
We in Caring for the Carers have, through our Carers' Charter 1991, worked with and on behalf of carers in the areas of recognition, respite, information, training and advocacy for many years. At our first National Respite Break, Trabolgan 1992, one carer, on leaving, said: "On the few occasions I go out, for shopping etc, people always say `How is John'. That is fine on my good days, but it would be very good if they asked `How are you, Mary'. This is the first time that anybody is asking about me". May we say to you, Mary McGoldrick, that we would like to know about you, and how we could help.
Many organisations involved in caring have joined together through Care Alliance Ireland. Hopefully their combined strength will have more influence on Government policy. We do feel progress is being made, but for carers this must seem more like a Celtic Tortoise than a Celtic Tiger.
We appeal to all carers to come together and support each other. Please get in touch, either with myself, or with Care Alliance Ireland, 30/32 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2. - Yours, etc., Judith Ironside,
Spanish Point,
Co Clare.