Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 831: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason she will not publish the National Carers' Strategy; the total cost of same; the reason for not publishing the strategy even if it cannot be implemented; if her attention has been drawn to the money saved in the health system by carers looking after dependents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33000/09]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 852: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the National Carers Strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33056/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 831and 852 together.

The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the contribution made by carers to people needing ongoing care and support. In recognition of this, considerable improvements have been made in recent years in services and supports for carers.

Over the past decade, weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit, half-rate carer's allowance and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

In Budget 2009, the rate of carer's allowance for those aged 66 or over increased by €7 to €239 per week and for those aged under 66 by €6.50 to €220.50 per week. These increases took effect from January 2009. Recipients of carer's allowance are also eligible for household benefits and free travel and the respite care grant.

It is estimated that the combined expenditure on carer's allowance, carer's benefit, the respite care grant and half-rate carer's allowance will be €650 million in 2009.

During 2008 an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, with secretariat support provided by my Department, undertook work, including a public consultation process to develop a National Carers' Strategy. However, because of the prevailing economic situation, it was not possible to set targets or time lines which could be achieved. In that context, rather than publishing a document which did not include any significant plans for the future, the Government decided not to publish a strategy. This position remains unchanged.

All work on the development of the strategy including research, the management of the public consultation process and the preparation of draft material was carried out by officials in my Department in conjunction with the members of the interdepartmental working group. The public consultation process undertaken between February and April 2008 was advertised in all regional and national newspapers at a cost of €128,000. The work carried out by the interdepartmental group and the submissions made to it have been useful and will of course contribute to the development of carers policy in the future.