Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 953: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the status of the national carers strategy; when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1368/09]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 979: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she will publish the national carers' strategy; the reason it has not been published to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1692/09]

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 995: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she expects to publish the national carers strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2178/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 953, 979 and 995 together.

The development of a National Carers' Strategy is a Government commitment in both the national partnership agreement Towards 2016 and the Programme for Government. A working group, chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach, was established to develop 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. Considerable work was undertaken on developing the strategy during 2008 including a wide consultation process with other Departments and organisations, carer representative groups, the social partners and the public. A draft document is currently being considered.