Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made by his Department in the role assigned to it under the national carers strategy in supporting working carers and former carers who wish to return to the workforce. [28656/15]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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The National Carer's Strategy published in 2012 by the Department of Health, sets out the strategic direction for policies, services and supports provided for carers. This strategy, prepared in consultation with carers, established the key priorities to support carers given scarce resources and a Carers' Forum is held annually to continue to give carers a voice at policy level.

The Family Carer's Scorecard refers to the role assigned to my Department under the National Carer's Strategy to support carers who wish to return to work and is critical of my Department for a lack of engagement.

The Department of Social Protection is the lead Department in supporting carers in returning to the workforce. That Department actively promotes its services, including the Carer's Benefit Scheme, through its network of Local Offices and Citizens Information Offices. That Department is committed under the National Carer's Strategy to publicise the supports available to carers, and attends events to promote the schemes available. The Department of Social Protection facilitates the annual Carer's Forum and frequently liaises with carers support groups throughout the country. Detailed information on Carer's Benefit and Carer's Leave is available on that Department's website at www.welfare.ie.

My Department's responsibilities in this area are limited to the Carer's Leave Act 2001, policy responsibility for which will transfer later this year from the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Minister for Justice and Equality in line with proposals to consolidate all family leave in a single statute.

My Department, through the information and support services for employees and employers available at will continue to provide information on employment rights, including the Carer's Leave Act 2001. Further, the reform of the workplace relations structures and procedures, which is provided for in the Workplace Relations Act 2015, aims to deliver a more efficient, cost-effective and user-friendly workplace relations service. The new structures and procedures also aim to provide for improved means of redress and enforcement within a reasonable period to the benefit of all who seek to vindicate their employment rights, including carers.