Richard Bruton
Ceist:141 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children his estimate of the total numbers of carers providing essential support to incapacitated persons in the community nationally and in Dublin; the plans he has to introduce any form of recognition for such carers; if he will allow them to register as carers and be assessed in respect of their need for support, in their own right, for help with the tasks of caring; the number of carers who are currently receiving support from his Department; and the support they are receiving. [18996/00]