Family Carers Ireland is a charity that was formed by the merger of two long-standing carer charities. It supports over 200,000 family carers in Ireland who provide 6.2 million hours of care per week, equivalent to €4 billion annually in economic value. Family Carers Ireland provides information, education, respite services, advocacy, and support groups to help carers in nearly every county in Ireland. Its goal is to be a stronger, more sustainable organization that can better advocate for and support family carers nationwide.

1. Family Carers Ireland – Who we are
Marian Mahon
National Carers Support Manager
Family Carers Ireland

2. Family Carers Ireland
Who we are:
• Family Carers Ireland is a registered charity emerging from
the coming together of two long standing charities of over
25 years (the Carers Association and Caring for Carers).
• The merger brings the best of both charities together whilst
broadening the range of services and supports to family
carers and set to benefit over 200,000 family carers in
Ireland.
• Carers are at the heart of everything we do.

3. Family Carers Ireland
ACCORDING TO CENSUS 2011
There are 187,112 Family Carers in Ireland. However, trends
since that census indicate a current figure in excess of
200,000.
Family Carers in Ireland provide almost 6.2 million hours of
care each week which equates to a contribution to the Irish
economy of €4 billion each year.
This means the average fulltime Carer contributes €62,000 of
caring work each year.

4. Family Carers Ireland
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What we do:
Family carers provide high levels of care to a range of people
including frail older people, people with severe disabilities,
the terminally ill and children with special needs.
Due to the fact that we are a much larger organisation we are
now in a position to provide even more supports and services
to Family Carers in nearly all of the 26 counties.

5. Family Carers Ireland
We provide:
• In Home Respite Service
• Training and Education
• Information Provision
• Emotional and practical supports to Carers and their Families
• Advocacy and Lobbying
• Membership
• Carers Groups
• Senior Alert Scheme
• Volunteering Programmes

6. Family Carers Ireland
We support Carers by:
• Promoting the interests of family carers and those
receiving care in the home
• Lobbying and advocating in an effort to gain recognition
and social justice for carers' invaluable contribution to
Irish society
• Work in partnership with other organisations to further
the interests and welfare of family carers

7. Family Carers Ireland
The National Freephone Careline
1800 24 07 24
• Family Carers Ireland offers a confidential, friendly and
supportive Care Line. They will listen to your concerns and
offer practical advice on a range of topics.

8. Family Carers Ireland
We provide information on:
• Rights and Entitlements for Carers and their Families
• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer’s Benefit
• Carer’s Support Grant
• Details of our local services in each area
• Training Courses available locally
• Other supports that may be available to Carers/Families

9. Carers Groups allow carers to:
• Share their experiences, feelings ideas, concerns, information
and problems
• Access information on their rights and entitlements
• Act together to highlight carers’ issues with decision makers
• Have a sense of connection and solidarity with other family
carers in similar circumstances
• Have a break from the caring situation
• Relax, socialise and learn from other carer
• Cope from day to day
Family Carers Ireland

10. Goal for Future
• The formation of Family Carers Ireland represents a
significant and positive milestone for Ireland’s approximate
200,000 family carers.
• The Carers Association and Caring for Carers Ireland have
come together to form one stronger, dedicated, carer-
centred organisation.
• The merged organisation, Family Carers Ireland, is more
sustainable, and is in a better position to support, lobby
for, and advocate on behalf of Ireland’s Family Carers into
the future.
Family Carers Ireland