Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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680. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress update on the national carers strategy; if he is satisfied with the progress of the strategy to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20354/15]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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699. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the up-to-date progress report regarding the national carers strategy by his Department, and the impact the initiative has had on family carers' lives since the strategy was launched in July 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20451/15]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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705. To ask the Minister for Health if he will implement the national carers strategy as a matter of urgency. [20501/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 680, 699 and 705 together.

The National Carers’ Strategy was published in July 2012 and sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for 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 to ensure that carers feel valued and supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and are empowered to have a life of their own outside of caring.

The Strategy also contains a Roadmap for Implementation with a suite of actions and associated timelines, and identifies the Government Department responsible for their implementation. It is important to note that the actions in the Roadmap for Implementation are those that can be achieved on a cost neutral basis.

The National Carers' Strategy committed to the production of an Annual Report on progress which would be published on the websites of relevant Departments. The first Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy was published in November 2013 and the second in January 2015, both of which are available on my Department's website. These Annual Reports will provide the Deputies with a list of actions that were identified in the Strategy and what progress has been made on each one since the Strategy’s publication.

While The Carers Association's recently published Family Carers Scorecardraises concerns over the pace of implementation, much work has been done and the report acknowledges achievements such as:

- The development of a single assessment tool for older people containing a detailed Carers Needs Assessment;

- The imminent release of one million euro funding from Dormant accounts for training and information provision for family carers;

- The hosting of an Annual Carers Forum by the Department of Social Protection and in particular the positive engagement around the structure of this forum to meet the needs of family carers.

At my Department's request, the HSE has set up a multi-disciplinary working group to bring forward implementation of the health aspects of the Strategy.

I am determined that this Strategy will be applied in a way that makes a real and positive difference to the lives of carers, their families, and those that they care for.