National Carers' Strategy

Ireland's first National Carers' Strategy, published in 2012, sets out in a single document the 42 actions that would be undertaken by Government to improve the lives of family carers. These actions covered the needs of family carers and those for whom they care, including the need for access to homecare and respite, adequate financial supports, transport, information, advocacy, housing, training, employment and the right to a life of their own away from their caring role.

Each year following the publication of the strategy, the Department of Health produced an annual progress report. These progress reports were assessed by the National Carers' Strategy Monitoring Group, lead by Family Carers Ireland, which assigned one of five colour-coded 'scores' to each commitment to reflect the progress that has been made during the review period. These scores were then compiled to produce annual Scorecard Reports.

After 2018, it was accepted that the 42 actions contained in the National Carers' Strategy had been exhausted and that the annual progress reports compiled by the Department of Health in relation to the strategy would no longer be produced. In the absence of a refreshed National Carers’ Strategy, as committed to by Government, Family Carers Ireland will apply this methodology to scoring progress in relation to the implementation of the Programme for Government. Click here for more.