AQW 13400/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 26/01/2021
Answered On Date: 22/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he has bid for money to support a carers payment.

Answer:

On 28 January I announced my intention to provide our carers with a one off award as a small recognition for the exceptional contribution that they make to our society. The Department previously secured funds for Covid-19 pressures in 20/21, including for a potential one off payment to carers.

Intense work has been undertaken to explore how such an award might be delivered. However a payment to carers will be significantly more complex to administer than recent one-off payments made to other groups. I have therefore written to my Executive colleagues requesting their support with this initiative as cross-departmental collaboration will be required. Work will continue to explore how we can make such an award a reality.

I am however pleased to have been able to allocate £4.4m to establish a new Support for Carers’ Fund. This will provide very valuable support for charities working with and for carers.