Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the implementation of legislation to provide carers with constitutional rights to information on their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35598/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the rate of the carer's allowance should be increased to equal that of the nursing home subvention grant which is equal to €190 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35602/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a national strategy will be developed to clearly outline Government's policies and future developments for carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35607/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether there is a need for a national forum; if a national advisory group designated to carers should be established to the various Departments and the Health Services Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35608/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 to 398, inclusive, together.

Supporting carers in our society has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced.

I had the pleasure last May of launching the Carers Association national strategy document, Towards a Family Carer's Strategy. The strategy is a focused document with clear objectives and actions. These objectives and actions cover a range of areas and Departments, including income support and health related issues. The long-term care working group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and comprising senior officials from the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Social and Family Affairs is due to report to the Tánaiste and to me shortly.

The objective of this group is to identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care, taking account of the Mercer report, the views of the consultation that was undertaken on that report and the review of the nursing home subvention scheme by Eamon O'Shea. The issues raised in the Carers' Association strategy will also be included in the group's deliberations.

With regard to the provision of information, my Department has a comprehensive information policy which is designed to ensure that all citizens are made aware of their entitlements in a timely fashion. It also ensures that customers are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur.

My Department undertakes specific information campaigns on the introduction of new schemes, changes in entitlements and improvements in services from time to time. In 2005, a number of information campaigns have been undertaken. One of these was a publicity campaign on the extended respite care grant scheme which was conducted in the national and provincial press during April 2005. Information posters were sent to all local social welfare offices and the citizen information centres. Voluntary groups representing carers and public health nurses were advised of the new changes and the grant was featured on several local radio stations.

In addition, my Department plans to run an information campaign later this year to promote the role of the social welfare local offices as a key information contact point in disseminating information on social welfare entitlements across all age groups.

My Department takes a pro-active approach in advertising new schemes and services, together with changes and improvements to existing schemes and services by using an appropriate mix of national and provincial media, and through information leaflets, fact sheets, posters and direct mailshots. In the interests of ensuring that the information campaigns run by my Department, and the agencies attached to it, are structured and targeted in a way that reach the maximum number of customers, I have established a communications liaison group in the Department. I have requested this group to monitor ongoing campaigns and to come forward with proposals and suggestions on how the dissemination of information to customers can be further enhanced. All schemes and services are publicised on the website at www.welfare.ie. Selective use is made of freephone telephone services to provide information on new schemes and services and at particular times of the year, such as at budget time and when the extended respite care grant was introduced.

My Department produces a comprehensive range of information booklets explaining entitlements to specific social welfare payments. These are widely available from the network of 130 social welfare local offices and branch offices throughout the country as well as from citizen's information centres and many local organisations.

Information is also available from information officers located in social welfare local offices. In addition, information officers give talks to many groups and organisations and participate in exhibitions and seminars about social welfare matters.

My Department works closely with voluntary and community organisations involved in an information giving role. A number of such organisations receive funding on an annual basis towards the cost of providing welfare rights and information services for their target groups.

Finally, Comhairle, the national information agency comes under the aegis of my Department. It has responsibility for supporting the provision of independent information, advice and other supports to the public. Comhairle supports a network of some 85 citizen's information centres whose role is to provide information to members of the public on all social services.

With regard to the rate of carer's allowance, from January the maximum rate of carer's allowance for a carer under 66 years increased from €139.60 to €153.60 per week while the maximum rate for a carer over age 66 years increased from €157.80 to €169.80 per week. In addition, all recipients of the allowance receive the household benefits package of free schemes and the annual respite care grant, which increased to €1,000 from June for each care recipient. A person caring for two or more people also receives an additional 50 per cent on their personal payment.

I am always prepared to consider changes to existing arrangements where these are for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available to me. Those recommendations involving additional expenditure will be considered in a budgetary context. I will continue to review the issues raised by the Carers Association and other bodies representing carers.