Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health if she will support the cost neutral proposals for building a brighter future for Ireland's family carers [46812/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government published the National Carers' Strategy to recognise and acknowledge the value and contribution of carers to maintaining children, adults and older people with physical or mental health difficulties in their own homes. This Strategy places carers firmly on the national agenda by setting the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Departments for Irish carers. It sets out a Vision to work towards and an ambitious set of National Goals and Objectives to guide policy development and service delivery. It already also contains a Roadmap for Implementation containing an agreed suite of Actions to be achieved in the short to medium term on a cost neutral basis.

It is important to note that it is a Cross-Departmental Strategy that addresses a wide number of priority policy areas such as income support, health, information, respite, housing, transport, training and employment. Each Department has responsibility for the implementation of actions for which they been allocated responsibility. All Departments and agencies that deal with carers in any of their functions must now take their lead from the Strategy and use it to inform their planning and policies in the future. Delivering on Actions already committed to in the Strategy is the priority for the short and medium term.

The implementation of the Strategy will be reviewed on a periodic basis to provide scope for Departments to revisit and propose additional actions. It is a matter for individual Departments to consider the proposals for building a brighter future for Ireland’s family carers as part of this process. My Department is responsible for the oversight of its implementation and will produce progress reports on a periodic basis for the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy.