Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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508. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to develop and deliver a ‘carer’s guarantee’ that provides a core basket of services to carers, given that an organisation (details supplied) states that the current funding falls short by €3.1 million to deliver the original proposals in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45899/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Family carers are key enablers of Government policy to support people to live with dignity and independence in homes and communities of their choosing for as long as possible by providing vital care to some of our most vulnerable citizens. The essential role that family carers play in the provision of care in Ireland is fully recognised and appreciated by me and my Department. Every day, family carers through their selfless hard work, knowledge and compassion enhance the quality of life of the most vulnerable in our society.

Annually recurring funding of €2 million has been provided since Budget 2021 under the National Carers’ Strategy to improve equity of access to supports for carers across the country. In Budget 2025, additional recurring funding of €600,000 has been allocated to further support family carers under the Carers’ Guarantee. This brings to €2.6m the total amount of annually recurring funding provided to deliver the Carers' Guarantee.

This funding is an important step towards delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to develop a Carers’ Guarantee, providing a more standard package of supports to family carers in every region, in tandem with the community and voluntary sector. From 2025, €2.44 million of this funding will be provided to Family Carers Ireland, an increase of over 25% on previous funding levels, to deliver a mix of community and individual supports across five areas of activity:

• community carer supports;
• intensive and emergency supports;
• education and training;
• Family Carers Ireland’s freephone careline; and
• psychosocial supports.