Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy said, there has been a very substantial public engagement on this issue and all the groups informed us that there was no need to repeat that process. There is direct engagement with all of the stakeholders on the development of this process and particularly with those representing the carers, such as the National Carers Association. Those representatives have also made substantial submissions which will be considered and discussed with them as we come to a conclusion. I presume the Deputy notes from my reply that substantial engagement is now taking place on this issue and it is one of my priorities to reach agreement on the national carers strategy and to have it published and made public. This is a priority not just for the Government, but also figures as a priority for the social partners in Towards 2016. It is an area to which the Government has given significant commitment over the past number of years, particularly in terms of direct resources to those who are caring for people in whatever circumstances they find themselves. We have made direct financial State assistance much more flexible and accessible for people. We have also become much more flexible in terms of allowing people to do some work as well as being deemed full-time carers.

I agree with the Deputy on the importance of completing this process and it is my intention that it will be completed this year. I have indicated that the closing date for submissions is April this year and at that stage I hope we can finalise the report and complete any further discussions with any of the representative groups that need to be completed. I assure the Deputy that I want to it to be an inclusive process.

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