Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to implement the national carers strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14439/11]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an estimation of the cost involved in introducing a carers strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14264/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 187 together.

The Government is committed in the Programme for Government to developing a carers' strategy. It will consider how best to progress the development of the strategy, taking into account the prevailing economic realities and the work that was carried out previously.

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.

As my Department is responsible for providing income supports for carers, it will of course have a role in developing and implementing the strategy. However, many of the issues of most concern to carers are the responsibility of other Departments, in particular the Department of Health.

As the strategy has not yet been developed, it is not possible at this time to give any estimation as to the cost or the plans for implementation; however, it will have to be developed within existing available resources. In developing and implementing the strategy, the Government will take account of our IMF and EU commitments, as well the outcomes of the comprehensive review of expenditure currently being undertaken by each Department.