Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 111: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she will publish a national carers strategy. [34877/08]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 142: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the national carers strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34769/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 142 together.

The development of a national carers strategy is a key Government commitment in both the national partnership agreement Towards 2016 and the programme for Government. A working group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach is working on developing the strategy. My Department provides the secretariat to the working group, which also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as well as FÁS and the Health Service Executive.

Developing the strategy involves consultation with other Departments and bodies not represented on the working group. The Department has met with a wide range of organisations, including the Equality Authority, the Combat Poverty Agency, the Citizens Information Board, the National Council on Ageing and Older People, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the National Disability Authority. A request for submissions from the public was published in regional newspapers in early March. The closing date for submissions was Friday, 18 April. There was a good response from individuals and organisations and the submissions received are being examined.

Towards 2016 commits the Department to hosting an annual consultation meeting of carer representative groups and relevant Departments and agencies. Such a meeting was held on 23 January 2008. Representatives of 12 groups and nine Departments and bodies attended. The theme was the national carers strategy and groups were given an opportunity to comment on the draft terms of reference and to raise other issues considered relevant in the context of the strategy.

I was pleased to launch the report, Listening to Carers: Report on a Nationwide Carer Consultation, produced by the Carers Association in partnership with Caring for Carers Ireland and Care Alliance Ireland on 30 June this year. The issues raised in the report are being considered as part of the development of the strategy.

The commitment to the development of a national carers strategy also includes a commitment to appropriate consultation with the social partners. An update on the strategy was provided to the social partners' plenary session in February. The first of two consultation meetings with the social partners was held on 8 May. Key issues raised were recognition for carers and their work, access to suitable health services, income support, training, gender issues and balancing employment and care. We are working on bringing the carers strategy to completion.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There has been considerable slippage in the delivery of the Government's undertaking. Is it a case of the Government not giving adequate priority to the work of carers? The programme for Government states: "Ensure a National Carers' Strategy focusing on supporting informal and family carers in the community will be developed by the end of 2007." That is a delay of ten months. It would be easy to come to the conclusion that the Minister, who is new to her Department, is not giving adequate priority to the issues of carers. The country depends on the vast number of people providing care to ensure that people can remain in their homes and that the cost to the Exchequer does not go through the roof entirely.

What is the reason for the ten-month delay in delivering on the undertaking given in the programme for Government? At what point is the publication of the strategy expected?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be well aware that, according to Towards 2016, the strategy was due for publication by the end of 2007, but there was a particular pressure on the Green Paper on Pensions at the time.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It was also a commitment.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Simultaneously, the new arrangements for payments for nursing homes were being worked out.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government knew that when it drew up the programme for Government.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yes, but it was not possible for the same officials——

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

So the programme for Government is meaningless.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It seems that it slipped off the Minister's desk.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

——to work on everything, particularly something that needs the care and attention of a carers strategy.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Did the Government not know that when the programme was drawn up?

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Why promise it?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The commitment was given in Towards 2016.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

For 2007.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It was stated in the programme for Government that the strategy would be published by the end of 2007.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister without interruption.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would be quite happy to tell the House why it did not occur, but perhaps the Deputy might be more interested to know what will occur.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I want both questions answered.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Certainly. Last year, one group of officials was working on two major items, namely, the carers strategy and the Green Paper on Pensions. Work was also ongoing in respect of nursing homes, a matter in which the Department of Social and Family Affairs had an input. That the paper and the carers strategy were not published at the time did not take from the Government's commitment, as shown in last year's budget, which dealt with half-rate carers, substantial increases in respite care and the introduction of large income disregards.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My question relates to the carers strategy. When can we expect it to be published?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is not an indication of a lack of commitment on the part of the Government that the strategy has not yet been published——

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is no sign of it after ten months.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Significant provisions have been put in place to recognise the important work of carers in society. Since then, work has been ongoing on submissions, meetings and consultations. That work is now drawing towards completion. It involves not only my Department but also the Department of the Taoiseach and, in particular, the Department of Health and Children. Most carers have concerns, for example, in regard to supports available from the Health Service Executive.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is pathetic to discover that staff in the Minister's department can work on only one project at a time. The programme for Government contained a commitment to devise a national carers strategy and to introduce a Green Paper on pensions. We are currently awaiting the White Paper on pensions. Is the Minister now saying there will be no progress in this regard until the carers strategy is completed? The Civil Service has grown by tens of thousands in the period in which Fianna Fáil has been in government. It is pathetic that it can only work on one strategy at a time.

When the document is finally produced, will it include specific targets and timeframes for delivery or will it be merely a grandiose visionary document that proves to be just as meaningless as the programme for Government seems to be?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Last year's budget afforded more recognition to carers than any of its predecessors.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The bodies representing carers have described this year's budget as a bitter blow.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is important where strategies are being devised, particularly when they involve cross-departmental input, that they are given the care and attention they require. The bringing forward of the budget has put pressure on all Departments and Ministers.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister is making commitments she does not intend to honour.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is our intention to continue to work on the critically important pensions strategy. We are working towards completing that, as well as the carers strategy.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will repeat my question. When does the Minister expect to be in a position to publish the carers strategy, which is now ten months late? It is not good enough to suggest that the strategy can wait because the Government is, in the meantime, taking steps to improve the position of carers. That is not the case. The budget for 2009 provides carers with the smallest increase, a mere 3%, out of all social welfare recipients. The programme for Government includes three other undertakings to carers, none of which was delivered in the budget. When will the Minister deliver on these commitments?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will be pleased to deliver on the programme for Government commitments as soon as the budgetary position allows. I will publish the strategy immediately after I bring it to Government.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When will that be? The Minister has given a ridiculous answer.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Will the Minister indicate in what year she expects it to be published?

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Clearly not.