Terence Flanagan
Ceist:413. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his assessment of the level of support that his Department is providing to carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7810/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 February 2015
Ceisteanna (413)
Freagraí scríofa
The National Carers’ Strategy was published in July 2012 and sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers.
It sets out a vision to work towards and an ambitious set of National Goals and Objectives to guide policy development and service delivery to ensure that carers feel valued and supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and are empowered to have a life of their own outside of caring.
The Strategy also contains a Roadmap for Implementation with a suite of actions and associated timelines, and identifies the Government Department responsible for their implementation. It is important to note that the actions in the Roadmap for Implementation are those that can be achieved on a cost neutral basis.
The National Carers' Strategy committed to the production of an Annual Report on progress which would be published on the websites of relevant Departments. The first Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy was published in November 2013 and the second in January 2015, both of which are available on my Department's website. These Annual Reports will provide the Deputy with a list of actions that were identified in the Strategy and what progress has been made on each one since the Strategy’s publication.
Steps have been taken to improve liaison with carers' representatives and to establish clearer lines of accountability. The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive met with carers' representatives at the Annual Carers' forum hosted by the Department of Social Protection today.
The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for the main funding schemes for carers; the Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Respite Care Grant and the Domiciliary Care Allowance. Further details of these schemes are available on their website www.welfare.ie .