Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the work undertaken to date by his Department to contribute towards the development of a carer's strategy as committed to in Towards 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22717/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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One of the key Government commitments in the national partnership agreement " Towards 2016 " is the development of a national carer's strategy and this commitment is reiterated in the Programme for Government. The strategy will focus on supporting informal and family carers in the community. While social welfare supports for carers will clearly be a key issue in the strategy, other issues such as access to respite and other services, education, training and employment will also feature strongly. Co-operation between relevant Government departments and agencies is essential if the provision of services, supports and entitlements for carers is to be fully addressed. For that reason all relevant departments and agencies will be involved in the strategy and there will be appropriate consultation with the social partners. My Department, along with a number of others, is examining how this issue can best be addressed.

The Programme for Government also includes significant commitments in relation to support for carers. I will keep the supports for carers available from my Department under review in order continue to improve the schemes and ensure that commitments in relation to income support are delivered.