Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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316. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which his Department is developing a strategy for carers; if closer integration of the work of his Department with other agencies is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50626/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government Sharing our Future contains specific commitments in recognition of the contribution of Family Carers to care provision in Ireland, which will build on the progress to date in the implementation of the National Carers’ Strategy.  One of these commitments is to review and update the National Carers’ Strategy.

Before commencing work to update and refresh the Strategy, the Department of Health will need to consider the approach to the update and the breadth of stakeholder consultation required. It is of note that a survey carried out by Care Alliance Ireland and UCC in 2021 found that for 40 of the 42 actions in the National Carers' Strategy, over 90% of carers felt they were still relevant and wanted them retained but that they should be strengthened. 

Government has taken a range of steps in recent years to improve the situation of carers. In line with the core vision of the 2012 Strategy, these measures recognise and respect 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. 

The Programme for Government commits to developing a ‘Carers' Guarantee’ proposal that will provide a core basket of services to carers across the country regardless of where they live. In Budget 2021 Government provided funding of €2 million to implement the Carers' Guarantee. €1.9 million of this funding is being channelled through Family Carers Ireland, while the remaining €100,000 is supporting the development and delivery of online supports for family carers through Care Alliance Ireland by means of an online support group.

The €1.9m allocation to Family Carers Ireland aims to improve access to carer supports across the country. This funding is extending services to approximately 5,000 additional family carers through a mixture of individual and community support services, including peer support, online activities, education programmes, virtual clinics and counselling supports. 

The Programme for Government also commits to extending free GP care to carers in receipt of the Carer’s Support Grant. To inform the implementation of this commitment, an analysis of the policy, legal and financial implications will be undertaken by the Department of Health in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection. 

It should be noted that since September 2018, individuals in receipt of either a full or half-rate Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit are automatically eligible for a GP visit card. This means that many persons in receipt of the Carer’s Support Grant already qualify for a GP visit card, as the Carer’s Support Grant is paid automatically to persons in receipt of Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit. Other measures introduced in recent years to expand access to GP Care include the automatic awarding of a GP visit card to all over 70s in 2015, and a 10% increase to the income thresholds for a GP Visit Card in 2019, which are considerably higher than those for a medical card. Currently, over 2 million people or 41.6% of the population have either a medical or GP visit card.

The Department of Social Protection provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant.  Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.

In Budget 2023, in acknowledgement of the crucial role that family carers play in our society and the particular challenges they face in light of the current cost of living crisis, the Minister for Social Protection announced a number of further financial supports for carers.  The measures benefitting family carers directly include a €500 Cost of Living lump sum payment to be paid in November and a Cost of Living Double Payment to Carers to be paid in October. Carers will also receive the Christmas Bonus Double Payment in early December.

In addition, there will be a €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with effect from January 2023, with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate. The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance with effect from January 2023. Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month with effect from January 2023.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a pension solution for family carers that recognises their important work.  The current State Pension (Contributory) system includes a range of measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and Home Caring Periods to recognise caring periods (of up to 20 years) outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. On 20 September 2022, Government approved enhanced State Pension provision for long-term carers (in excess of 20 years), as recommended by the Pensions Commission, to be introduced from January 2024. This will be implemented through a scheme to ensure that long-term carers can be attributed with contributions for gaps in their contribution record arising from their time spent caring, and through the establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'. The Department of Social Protection will work to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary.  As part of the work to implement the new scheme, relevant Government Departments and other stakeholders will examine options for the creation of a statutory ‘Family Carer Register’.