Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I will clarify it for the Deputy after the debate. We are looking at everything. I will not accept the contention that we do not value carers. We absolutely do value them. We have shown through a number of initiatives in recent years that we do so. There have been initiatives in successive budgets and contributions around income disregards and the carer's support payment. We have introduced insurable credits. That shows that people who have cared over many years can now get a contributory State pension, something they could not do before the introduction of that measure.

I will revert to the Deputy on the report. We had engagement with carers' organisations yesterday on their agendas, not just in the social protection space but across other Departments. We will work with colleagues across Government on carers to improve their lives. I value each and every one of them, not just for the what they are doing for the State but for communities around the country, their families and the people they care for. While I have the privilege of being a Minister for Social Protection, I will work to ensure that our Department does everything it can to protect and engage with carers. We will have direct engagement with carers from all over the country in the carers forum during May.

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