John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask that Senator Moran provide the details of the particular case to which she referred and I will forward them to the Minister.

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, who conveys her apologies to Senator Moran for being unable to reply in person to the matter raised.

I should say at the outset that the Government acknowledges the crucial role carers play in society and I welcome the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the range of supports available to carers from the Department of Social Protection. The national carers' strategy signals the Government's commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and to responding to their needs across a number of policy areas. By setting out a vision to work towards and an ambitious set of national goals and objectives to guide policy development and service delivery, the strategy seeks to ensure that carers feel valued and supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and are empowered to have a life of their own outside of caring.

Acknowledgement of the key role played by carers is reflected in the range of significant supports provided by the Department of Social Protection to support carers in their caring role and ameliorate the financial burden of caring. Indeed the income supports that carers receive from the Department are among the highest rates in Europe. Carer's allowance is the principal means-based income support payment for people who are providing full-time care and attention for certain older people or people with a disability. However, there are people who fall outside the net and these must be dealt with.