President Connolly meets family carers during first official visit to Carlow

PRESIDENT Catherine Connolly made her first official visit to County Carlow on Thursday, when she attended the official launch of the Supporting Family Carers Across Ireland project report at Visual Arts Centre.

The project, which is funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), is a partnership between South East Technological University (SETU) and Family Carers Ireland that allows family carers to enrol in accredited courses at SETU free of charge.

President Connolly met with carers who had completed programmes through the initiative and listened to a presentation of the project’s report and a panel discussion explaining its benefits to carers and their families. There was also a video which featured the real-life stories of some of the project’s participants.

Speaking about the project, President Connolly said, “This project shines a welcome spotlight on the vital, yet all-too-often unseen contribution that family carers across our country perform. Theirs is an extraordinary service, providing compassion, care and stability to loved ones without recognition or reward.

“I would also like to commend SETU on this important initiative, which highlights the support needs of carers, celebrates their remarkable commitment and dedication, and promotes a greater awareness of their invaluable work,” the President added.

One of the carers in attendance was Michael G Kenny from Co Kerry, who cared for his father for 12 years and said the project changed his life greatly.

He said: “Before I entered this programme, my level of education was just second level, so to be able to go to a level six automatically was just beyond reach.” Michael also thanked SETU and his fellow students for their support throughout the course.

He added: “I must say the college themselves were absolutely outstanding, and having the ability to do the course online was a huge help.” Since the initiative was launched in 2022, 791 carers have completed 43 programmes across a wide range of disciplines, such as disability studies, advocacy, communications, and health and wellbeing.

Speaking after the event, project coordinator Nicola McEntee said: “It is fantastic to be here today with many family carers who have come through the project.

“Also, to be joined by President Connolly and to see how much she values family carers in Ireland, they are such huge contributors to the country and within their own community.

“They possess so many skills that often go unseen and unheard, so for us to be able to give them a little bit of accreditation and acknowledge the multidisciplinary skillset they have and celebrate their achievements here today, it is just wonderful.” 

According to Family Carers Ireland, there are over 500,000 people in the country who identify as family carers, and who provide 19 million hours of unpaid care every week, saving the state around €20 million per year.

The project, which secured €1 million in funding from the HEA, allowed carers to complete their courses online, saving them transportation costs and the need to find replacement care.

As well as covering course fees, the project provided educational, emotional and peer support to carers.

In total, people from 25 different counties participated in the course.

The project follows on from the success of an earlier collaboration in 2018 between Family Carers Ireland and SETU, where a level six course in Family Caring was created.