Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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32. To ask the Minister for Health the up-to-date position of a review and updating of the national carers' strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25386/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Government policy on family carers is set out in the 2012 National Carers' Strategy which provides the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government departments and agencies for carers. The 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 participate as fully as possible in economic and social life. Oversight of the Strategy is led by my department, with individual Government Departments leading on action areas under their remit.

Before commencing work on updating the National Carers Strategy, consideration is being given regarding the approach and the breadth of stakeholder consultation. A review of the Strategy, carried out by Care Alliance Ireland and University College Cork in 2021, found that over 90% of carers felt the actions in the Strategy were still relevant and wanted them retained.

In March, I established with Minister Humphrey’s an inter-departmental group examining supports for family carers. Membership of the group includes my department, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The inter-departmental group will report its findings to me and the Ministers for Social Protection and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth by Q3 2024.