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Social Welfare Policy.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004

Wednesday, 10 November 2004

Ceisteanna (79)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

123 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the disappointment expressed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the lack of progress on the special initiative in the Sustaining Progress agreement on tackling the care needs of children, persons with disability and older persons. [28175/04]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Sustaining Progress agreement contains a special initiative to tackle the care needs of children, people with disabilities and older persons.

The areas under this initiative for which my Department has responsibility are: the publication of a study to examine the future financing of long-term care in Ireland and the establishment of a working group to examine the strategic policy, cost and service delivery issues associated with the care of older people; a commitment to review the contribution being made by the Department's income support system to people reconciling work and family life; the development and promotion of an information remit by the Family Support Agency; the preparation of a national programme focusing specifically on the development of family policy and supports to mark the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family.

Supporting carers in our society has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced. The long-term care agenda is a very important aspect of social policy, with major financial and other implications, and I am determined to move this agenda on by developing a framework for the future of long-term care in this country.

Under the Sustaining Progress special care initiative the Government gave a commitment to publish the study to examine the future financing of long-term care in Ireland. There is also a commitment to establish a working group, including relevant interests, to examine the strategic policy, cost and service delivery issues associated with the care of older people. The Study to Examine the Future Financing of Long-term Care in Ireland was launched last year. My Department circulated a consultation document based on this study.

The aim of this document was to focus interested parties on the specific complex issues which are discussed at length in the report. These issues include benefit design, delivery, cost and financing of long-term care into the future. The document was circulated to over 70 interested parties, including Government Departments, health boards, interest groups and the social partners. Many of these organisations and groups have replied to the Department and these responses are currently being examined. The feedback from this process will be the starting point for meeting the commitment in Sustaining Progress to examine the strategic policy, cost and service delivery issues associated with the care of older people.

Government policy has had to evolve to take account of changing family structures in Ireland. Issues such as decreasing birth rates, increasing numbers of lone parents, the introduction of divorce, the ageing of the population, as well as the increased participation of women in the workforce, have all impacted on the development of policies to support families in Ireland. In preparation for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family this year, 2004, a series of public consultation fora on the family took place last year, 2003. The aim was to obtain the views, particularly of family members and other interests, on the impact of social and economic changes on families and on what the priorities of Government should be in the development of family policy and supports in this changing context.

A thematic report of the process, entitled Families and Family Life in Ireland — Challenges for the Future was published in February 2004, together with reports on each individual forum. This thematic report provides an analysis of the outcome of the consultative process at the beginning of this special year.

The Irish EU Presidency organised, with the support of the EU Commission, an international conference in May 2004 in Dublin Castle, entitled "Families, Change and Social Policy in Europe", at which support for the caring responsibilities of families was one of the main themes. My Department also arranged for Ireland's participation in a cross country study by the OECD, entitled Babies and Bosses: Reconciling Work and Family Life. Volume II of the study, launched in November 2003, includes an analysis of the position in Ireland regarding reconciling the family caring role and the demands of work. The full study being finalised at present will provide a clear and comprehensive analysis of the issues and of best practices identified in the countries studied, which will be of great assistance in the further development of policy here in Ireland.

An interdepartmental committee with consultancy assistance has been working since July to draw up an integrated strategy for supporting families designed to modernise existing policies and programmes to meet today's realities for families. Full account will be taken of the outcome of the public consultation, the findings of the Irish Presidency conference and of relevant studies at both national and international levels, and of submissions received from interested parties. The aim is to have the strategy substantially completed by the end of this anniversary year with a view to publication early in 2005. The issue of supports for families with regard to caring will form a major part of the strategy.

Under the Family Support Agency Act 2001, one of the functions of the agency is "to promote and disseminate information about issues in relation to marriage and relationships education, family mediation, parenting and family responsibilities and related matters and in this regard to co-operate with other public authorities in providing information to assist persons in balancing their work and family responsibilities". The strategic plan of the Family Support Agency was launched in May 2004 and includes a strategic priority to promote the Family Support Agency as a key provider of support services and related information for families in Ireland. A total of €20.17 million has been allocated to the agency in 2004 to enable it to carry out the functions assigned to it.

I am satisfied that significant progress has been made on those aspects of the special initiative on the care needs of children, persons with disability and older persons which come within the remit of my Department and I am determined to ensure that it continues in this key policy area.

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