Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

At the meeting of 23 January to which the Minister referred, the impression was given to those present that work would commence as soon as possible on the strategy and that it would be completed by mid-2008. Next Tuesday, 1 July, is mid-2008. The initial deadline was the end of 2007. What is the Department's policy on deadlines? Does it follow the Government's lead on issues such as decentralisation in respect of which the Taoiseach told us yesterday that while a three-year commitment has not been delivered six years later, it does not matter and we must move on. The commitment to finalise a national carers' strategy is six months overdue and it remains a work in progress.

Will the Minister offer a firm deadline as to when the strategy will be completed? Will she provide more detail on the depth of the consultation that is taking place? There is concern among carers that they will be presented with something which does not meet their needs. There was some discussion at the meeting of 23 January and a position paper was presented at the last meeting with the social partners. The three agencies to which the Minister referred are State agencies or at least related to her Department. Carers and their representative bodies are concerned that the issues of most concern to them may not be addressed in the strategy. They do not even know whether it will include short-term, medium-term or long-term aims and what they will entail.

I appreciate that various Departments and agencies are involved in the process but, as the Minister acknowledged, her Department is providing the secretariat. While the Department of the Taoiseach may be the lead Department, much of the work falls to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Will the Minister provide a clear timeframe for the publication of the strategy and for its delivery?

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