Ninety-eight percent of carers in Ireland are women and their work is largely invisible and undervalued, a new report has found. 

Action Aid Ireland and the National Women's Council also found poverty levels among carers are higher due to the failure of the State to adequately value and support them.

Action Aid Ireland Karol Balfe CEO said particular groups of women are at increased risk.

“We conducted research with lone parents, Traveller women, women with disabilities, older women,” she said.

“These groups experience higher levels of poverty than the rest of the population and that is because of the care issue.

“They often have barriers in accessing education, in accessing decent jobs and in really fully participating in Irish society.”

Ms Balfe said society needs to do better at recognising the work of carers.

“Across the board, care work is not valued,” she said.

“We find women are really experiencing inequality because of this and it’s at the heart of the issue that’s coming up with the referendum in March.

“It really is an issue that needs to be addressed.

“We need to see a much fuller provision of supports for women who receive and provide care.”

The referendum will be held on March 8th and ask voters if they want to include in the Constitution a provision noting that, “The State recognises that the provision of care, by members of a family to one another by reason of the bonds that exist among them, gives to Society a support without which the common good cannot be achieved, and shall strive to support such provision.”

Main image: A younger woman holds on to the hands of a senior resident in a nursing home. Photo: Jens Kalaene