Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the Minister who will have responsibility for promoting the national carer's strategy in line with the commitment in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11619/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Programme for Government was adopted by the Government at its first meeting as the framework for its work over coming years. It sets out the policies and initiatives to be progressed over the term of the Government to tackle the many and varied challenges facing the country. The Department of the Taoiseach will be supporting the implementation of the Programme as a whole and it will do this with a more explicit focus on its role as a Cabinet Office.

As part of the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to developing a carers' strategy. It will consider how to progress the development of the strategy, including ministerial responsibility, taking into account the prevailing economic realities.

The Department of the Taoiseach chaired an interdepartmental group in 2008 which undertook work, to develop a National Carers' Strategy. The Departments of Finance, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Health and Children, and Social and Family Affairs, as well as the Health Services Executive (HSE) and FÁS were represented on the group. While each of the themes set out in the terms of reference was examined in terms of the current position, because of the prevailing economic situation, it was not possible to agree future targets or time limits which could be achieved. In that context, rather than publishing a document which did not include any significant plans for the future, the then Government decided not to publish a strategy.