Minister Hoctor presents Carer of the Year Awards 2008
22 November 2008
Máire Hoctor, TD, Minister for Older People presented the Carer of the Year awards at the National Awards ceremony in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham in Dublin tonight, (Saturday, 22nd November).
Minister Hoctor congratulated the winners, saying “I know all of you work tirelessly caring for your loved ones and I hope you all enjoy your well deserved prizes. These awards are an excellent way of highlighting the invaluable work done by carers in our communities and of expressing our gratitude to them.”
Four regional award winners were chosen from all the nominations received for the Carer of the Year awards. There is also a special category recognising the Young Carer of the Year which recognises the efforts of a carer under the age of 18.
One overall National Carer of the Year is chosen from the regional winners and they are presented with a week’s holiday in Europe. The remaining three regional winners win a weekend break in Ireland.
Minister Hoctor continued, supporting and recognising carers in our society is, and has been, a priority of the Government. Almost 44,000 carers are now in receipt of either a Carer's Allowance or a Carer's Benefit payment and there have been significant improvements to these schemes and other services for carers with increased funding for home care packages, home helps and respite care.”
Minister Hoctor concluded by saying, “the Carer of the Year awards highlight the great work undertaken by the Carers Association. I would like to thank the Association for inviting me to present these awards this evening. In particular, thanks are due to Karen Phelan, Catherine Cox, Enda Egan and the Carers Association Centre Managers who organised the awards this year.”
