National Carers Strategy.

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Questions (61, 62, 63, 64)

Richard Bruton

Question:

108 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to date on the new national carers strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12102/08]

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128 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of meetings that have been held in relation to discussions on the new national carers strategy; the persons present at the meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12103/08]

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Shane McEntee

Question:

146 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the completion date for the new national carers strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12104/08]

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David Stanton

Question:

545 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of times the national carers strategy working group has met to date; the composition of the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12223/08]

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Written answers

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Martin Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 128, 146 and 545 together.

The development of a national carers' strategy is a key Government commitment in both the national partnership agreement "Towards 2016" and the Programme for Government. A working group, chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach, has begun work on developing the strategy.

My Department provides the secretariat to the working group which also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Enterprise, Trade and Employment as well as FÁS and the Health Service Executive. To date, the working group has held two meetings, one in February and the other in March. A list of those who attended the meetings is set out at the end of the reply. It is intended to hold the next meeting later this month.

Developing the strategy involves consultation with other Departments and Government agencies not represented on the working group. Yesterday, my Department hosted a consultation meeting with several organisations including the Equality Authority, Combat Poverty Agency, Citizen's Information Board, Pobal, the Family Support Agency, the National Economic and Social Council, the National Council on Ageing and Older People, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. A list of attendees is set out at the end of the reply.

"Towards 2016" commits the DSFA to hosting an annual consultation meeting of carer representative groups and relevant Departments and Agencies. Such a meeting was held on 23 January 2008. Representatives of 12 groups and 9 government departments and agencies attended. A list of attendees is set out at the end of the reply.

The theme was the National Carers' Strategy and groups were given an opportunity to comment on the draft terms of reference and to raise other issues considered relevant in the context of the strategy. Key issues were recognition for carers and their work, accessing suitable health services, income support (including pensions) and access to training and employment. Another meeting with carer groups will be held when the results of the public consultation process are available.

The commitment to the development of a National Carers' Strategy includes a commitment to appropriate consultation with the social partners. An update in relation to the strategy was provided to the social partners plenary session in February. It is intended that the first consultation meeting with the social partners will be held in April.

A request for submissions from the public was published in regional newspapers during the week beginning 3 March 2008 and in the national daily papers on Friday 7 March. It is also on the front page of my Department's website. Representative groups and the social partners have been advised of this process. The closing date for submissions is Friday, 18 April 2008. To date, 35 submissions have been received. It is intended to publish the strategy later this year.

Carers Consultation Meeting 23 January 2008 List of Attendees

Name	Organisation
Enda Egan	The Carers Association
Frank Goodwin	The Carers Association
Mary McMahon	Caring for Carers Ireland
Liam O’ Sullivan	Care Alliance Ireland
Mairead Hayes	Senior Citizen’s Parliament
Gráinne McGettrick	Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Deirdre Carroll	Inclusion Ireland
Stephen MacWhite	People with Disabilities in Ireland
Joan O’Donnell	Disability Federation of Ireland
Eamon Timmins	Age Action Ireland
Clare Cassells	Crosscare
Áine Uí Ghiollagáin	Cúram
Mary Sherry	Irish Farmers Association
Orlaigh Quinn (Chair)	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Dearbháil Nic Giolla Mhicíl	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Catherine Curley	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Caitríona O’Connor	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Denis Galvin	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Colin Byrne	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Alison Keogh	Department of Health and Children
Sinead Hanafin	Office of the Minister for Children
Deirdre Scully	Health Services Executive
John Fitzpatrick	Department of Finance
Patsy Purtill	Department of Finance
Denis Breen	Department of An Taoiseach
Anne Gale	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Caroline Savage	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Theresa Donohue	Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government
Aisling Byrne	FÁS

National Carers' Strategy Working Group Meetings

List of Attendees
Organisation	Attendees 5 February 2008	Attendees 13 March 2008
Department of An Taoiseach	Mary Doyle (Chair) Denis Breen Tony Downes	Mary Doyle (Chair) Tony Downes
Department of Social and Family Affairs	Orlaigh Quinn Dearbháil Nic Giolla Mhicíl Caitríona O’Connor	Orlaigh Quinn Dearbháil Nic Giolla Mhicíl Caitríona O’Connor
Health Services Executive	Martin Rogan Deirdre Scully	Martin Rogan Deirdre Scully
FÁS	Ann Gilton	Ann Gilton
Department of Health and Children	Geraldine Fitzpatrick	Geraldine Fitzpatrick Dave Walsh
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment	Leo Sheedy	Leo Sheedy
Department of Finance	Patsy Purtill Fred Foster	Fred Foster

Consultation meeting with Government Departments and Bodies

Tuesday 1 April 2008
List of Attendees
Name	Organisation
Orlaigh Quinn (Chair)	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Dearbháil Nic Giolla Mhicíl	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Caitríona O’Connor	Department of Social and Family Affairs
Theresa O’Donoghue	Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government
Trudy Duffy	Department of Education and Science
Mary Byrne	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Pauline Moreau	Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Mary Kelly	Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Brian D’Arcy	Equality Authority
Carol Baxter	Equality Authority
Geralyn McGarry	Citizen’s Information Board
Sharon Keane	Combat Poverty Agency
Christina O’Connor	Family Support Agency
Sinead Quill	National Council on Ageing and Older People
Vanessa Coffey	Pobal
Helen Johnston	National Economic and Social Council
Anne Marie McGauran	National Economic and Social Forum
Nuala Ward	Health Information and Quality Authority