Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
107 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the membership of the working group on carers’ needs assessment; when the group was established; when she expects the group to report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30744/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraA working group on carers' needs assessment was established by my Department following the publication of the action programme for the millennium in November 1999. Membership of the group comprised representatives of all the relevant stakeholders. The group met on a number of occasions and examined a number of areas including the provision of State services to carers, sheltered housing, tax relief and transport issues.
The health strategy, published in 2001, gave extra attention to the welfare of family carers to provide them with a voice, which would provide for additional community support for older people and their carers. The working group also got subsumed into other areas, such as the provision of a home care grant and personal care packages, as discussed in the expenditure review of the nursing home subvention scheme by Professor Eamon O'Shea, and the report by Mercer Consultants Limited, on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, on the future funding of long-term care.
