Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to respond to the family carers’ scorecard report from the Carers Association regarding the national carers strategy, particularly the key areas which fall under the remit of her Department, where there has been no progress reported or where there has been regression in terms of the measures proposed. [24782/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The government recognises the significant contribution that carers make to society and provide a range of income supports to assist with the financial burden of caring. These include carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance and respite care grant. In excess of €822 million is provided for these payments in 2015.

In relation to the scorecard report from the carers’ association to which the deputy refers, I am pleased to say that the report acknowledges that the engagement by the department with the national carers’ strategy (NCS) monitoring group has been good and that this open communication has led to practical outcomes – for example, the department amending the standard written communication to those refused carer’s allowance on the grounds of means, to point out that they may still have an entitlement to the respite care grant.

The report also acknowledges the improvements made by the department in reducing the waiting periods for carers allowance applications and appeals, and considers that the department’s major service delivery modernisation project represents a concerted effort to improve the service provided to family carers.

The report also points to the annual carers’ forum run by the department (as part of its NCS commitments) as a good template for open and transparent engagement. This is a very useful event which affords an opportunity for carers’ group to interact and raise issues with service providers, and this year, the department reshaped the format of the forum, in consultation with the carers association, so that it might be even more effective.

In addition to the annual forum referenced above, the department engages with the carers’ groups on an ongoing basis. For example, the department in conjunction with carers groups is currently exploring options in relation to increasing awareness of the possibility of care sharing, transitional arrangements for carers following the conclusion of their caring role, improvements to the application process and promoting the respite care grant.

This engagement is very positive and helpful from the department’s point of view and I would like to acknowledge the positive and constructive approach which the carers groups bring to this process.