Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am disappointed the Government has not proceeded with the implementation of the cost-neutral element of the national carers' strategy. The Minister of State in his reply referred to the fact the interdepartmental working group did not complete a final text. Why was this the case? Why is it not possible to isolate a set of so-called non-financial aspects? If it is cost neutral why cannot it be implemented? It does not make sense in the overall, holistic approach to carers. They have recognised that we are in stringent economic times. We have all been asked, including the Minister of State, for a cost neutral set of proposals to augment the work in the absence of a national carers' strategy. Why is that not being allowed to go ahead?