Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2004. To ask the Minister for Health the efforts he has made in respect of bringing forward an updated national carers’ strategy; the funding that has been allocated to date to review and update the strategy; the estimated additional funding required to conclude the review and publish the new strategy; the timeframe for the publication of the new strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36088/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s National Carers' Strategy is designed around a core vision which recognises and respects carers as key care partners who are supported to maintain their own health and well-being, care with confidence and who are empowered to participate as fully as possible in economic and social life.

Under the Strategy, a range of measures have been introduced or extended by my Department to support family carers in recent years. Most recently, the Government allocated €2 million in Budget 2021 to advance the implementation of the National Carers' Strategy, with a focus on providing a more standard package of supports to family carers in every region. My Department is currently working on the details of this allocation with the HSE.

The Programme for Government contains a firm commitment to progress the review and update of the National Carers’ Strategy, and this is a priority for me, as Minister for Health. To this end, my Department will undertake preparatory work this year in relation to the design, scope and workplan for delivering a review of the Strategy. Furthermore, my Department is committed to keeping all the key stakeholders informed in relation to our progress in this area, including relevant government departments, representative organisations and those who advocate on behalf of family carers.