Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to correspondence regarding a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44038/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the valuable contribution that people caring for members of their own family are making to society - it was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy. The Department is fully committed to ensuring that carers can access benefits advice as early as possible when their caring role begins and to improving the availability of information on the supports available.

In this context, advice is available from the Department’s local office network and website, Citizen Information Centres and from the various organisations representing carers. In relation to the role generally of health care personnel in this area, I would point out that, as part of the National Carers’ Strategy, the HSE has given a commitment to promoting more proactive approaches to the identification of carers and to addressing their needs among staff and organisations that are likely to encounter individuals in caring situations (e.g. health and personal social service providers, and particularly primary care team members, community and education professionals).