Family carers play a vital, though often unseen, role in supporting loved ones with disabilities, illness, or age-related conditions. Behind the scenes, organisations like Care Alliance Ireland are working tirelessly to ensure these carers are recognised, supported, and heard. Zoe Hughes, Senior Policy and Research Officer with Care Alliance, spoke with Disability Matters about the organisation’s work, its impact, and the challenges that remain.
“Care Alliance Ireland is an umbrella organisation,” Zoe explained. “We’re made up of over a hundred member groups—disability organisations, local family resource centres, and condition-specific groups like the Irish Cancer Society—who all support family carers in some way. Our role is to connect, support, and advocate for them.”
While the Alliance began over 25 years ago focusing mainly on policy and research, it has since grown to include direct supports for carers. “We now have two key projects that work directly with family carers,” Zoe said. “One helps family carers return to employment, and the other is an online support group offering peer support through Facebook. Both have been incredibly successful.”
A Voice in Policy and Research
As part of the policy and research team, Zoe’s work centres on influencing national decisions that affect carers’ lives. “We work with government to change policies and improve supports,” she said. “For example, one of our major goals has been the abolition of the means test for Carer’s Allowance. The recent budget was a mixed bag—there were positive steps, like raising income limits for eligibility—but we still want to see more direct investment in carer supports and services.”
The numbers illustrate the scale of unpaid caring in Ireland. “According to the latest census, there are over 240,000 family carers, but we estimate it’s closer to 600,000,” Zoe noted. “Many people don’t see themselves as carers—they just see it as what families do—but their contribution is immense. If you were to replace their work, it would cost the state around €20 billion a year.”
The majority of carers are women, with a 60/40 gender split. “Men and women tend to care differently,” Zoe said. “Men might take on more of the practical or organisational tasks, while women often provide more of the day-to-day personal care. Both roles are essential.”
Connecting and Collaborating
Membership of Care Alliance is open to not-for-profit organisations that support family carers. “We’re very strong on governance,” Zoe emphasised. “We’ve won the Good Governance Award four times, and we want our members to share that standard. We also provide practical support—helping smaller organisations with policy work, connecting groups across the country, and making sure carers’ voices are heard at national level.”
Collaboration is at the heart of their work. “We co-chair the Family Care Research Group, which brings together researchers, carers, and practitioners to ensure that research leads to real-world change,” she explained. “We also work with organisations like the Disability Federation of Ireland to present a unified message when engaging with government—showing that we’re all working toward the same goal: improving lives.”
Training and Re-emergence
Care Alliance also runs the Re-emerge Project, supporting carers who wish to return to work or education. “Caring often comes to an end—sometimes suddenly—and it can be daunting to figure out what comes next,” Zoe said. “The project helps carers rebuild confidence, update skills, and explore options, whether that’s employment, volunteering, or further education. We even offer counselling and funding support for courses.”
Research with Purpose
Zoe’s own research delves into often overlooked areas. “I love asking awkward questions,” she laughed. “I’ve written on topics like role reversal—when ageing parents are cared for by their adult children with disabilities—and on how caring can affect romantic relationships. My PhD focuses on supports for LGBTQ+ family carers, exploring what might be different or missing for them.”
Care Alliance also contributes to national initiatives such as PPI Ignite, which promotes public and patient involvement in research. “It’s all about ensuring carers’ lived experience informs the research that affects them,” she said.
Celebrating Carers
Each June, Care Alliance coordinates National Carers Week, a nationwide celebration recognising the contribution of family carers. “It’s an awareness week filled with local events, from coffee mornings to pamper days, online activities, and research launches,” Zoe explained. “We keep it positive—carers face challenges all year, so this week is about recognition and celebration.”
Information on events and partnerships is available at www.carersweek.ie and through the National Carers Week Facebook page.
Building Community Online
Before closing, Zoe highlighted one of the most vibrant supports Care Alliance offers: the Online Family Carer Support Group. “It’s free to join and open to anyone over 18 caring for someone in Ireland,” she said. “We run daily activities—book clubs, art classes, gardening competitions, quizzes—and it’s a lovely way for carers to connect, even if they can’t leave home. We now have over 11,000 members nationwide.”
For Zoe, the goal is simple but vital: “We want every family carer in Ireland to know they’re not alone, that support is out there, and that their work matters.”
To learn more, visit www.carealliance.ie or search Online Family Carer Support Group on Facebook.