Vol. 526 No. 2
82 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will initiate the publication of an information leaflet for carers, in particular, in view of the fact that people involved in providing informal care for elderly or ill relatives saved the Government substantial amounts of money, despite themselves receiving no financial rewards. [26156/00]
My Department has no plans to publish a leaflet for carers. However, the Carers Association, which is in receipt of an annual grant of £270,000 from my Department, has published an information pack for carers which details information on the carers allowance, the respite grant available and other benefits which are available from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. The pack also gives information on the services provided to carers by health boards. The information pack is available free of charge to carers from the Carers Association, St. Mary's Community Centre, Rathmines, Dublin 6. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has recently published its own information booklet on the entitlements of carers and this booklet is available from any social welfare office or the Department's information service at Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Dublin 1, Tel: 01 874 8444. The Deputy may also be interested in a publication from the former National Social Service Board – now part of the new organisation "Comhairle"– listing all entitlements for the over 60's which includes information for carers. I have sent a copy of this publication to the Deputy for his information under separate cover.
