Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he expects to publish a national carers strategy. [5260/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The development of a national carer's strategy is a key Government commitment in the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and the Programme for Government. A working group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, has begun work 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. The expertise of other Departments and Government bodies will be called on as particular issues arise. It is intended to hold consultations with the social partners and carer representative groups. Submissions will also be invited from the public and it is planned to publish a request for submissions in the coming weeks. It is intended to publish the strategy later this year.