Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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326. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence concerning the national social partnership agreement 2016 and the national carers strategy in 2008 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The National Carers' Strategy signals the Government's commitment to recognising and respecting carers as key care partners and in responding to their needs across a number of policy areas. A key objective of Government policy for older people, children and adults with disabilities is to support them to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Carers are vital to the achievement of this objective and are considered a backbone of care provision in Ireland.

The letter furnished with the Deputy's Question raises issues which extend beyond the direct remit of the Department of Health and which require responses from a number of Government Department's and agencies. In recognition of the diverse range of issues which impact on carers, the National Carers' Strategy states that “Each Department will have responsibility for the implementation of actions for which they have been allocated responsibility. Parliamentary work relating to specific actions will be addressed by the Department with responsibility for specific actions."

On this basis specific queries raised by this Question have been referred to the responsible bodies as shown below for direct reply to the Deputy.

- Income Support/Infomation Services/Personal and Technology Development:- Department of Social Protection

- Health Care and Services:- Health Service Executive (as the issues raised relate to operational service delivery)

- Programme of Training/Labour Market Issues:- Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation

- Transport:- Department of Transport

- Housing:- Department of Environment, Community, and Local Government

- Life Long Training and Education:- Department of Education and Skills

- Protection by the Law:- Department of Justice and Equality

- Social Inclusion/Making Contact with Public Bodies/Time spent as a Carer:- As these issues have relevance across the remits of public bodies they have been referred to all of the above for appropriate reply with regard to their areas.