AQW 7167/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 21/02/2024
Answered On Date: 06/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what actions he will take to progress a formal register of carers that will include both adult and child carers.

Answer:

To advance the reform of adult social care the Department has established the Social Care Collaborative Forum. The purpose of the Collaborative Forum is to provide a formal mechanism to support opportunities for greater co-operation, co-production and joined up working between the Department, the social care sector, and across Government, to implement the proposals arising out of the Consultation.

The work of the Forum is being taken forward through a number of workstreams which meet on a regular basis. A Supporting Carers Workstream, co-chaired by Carers (NI) and my Department, has been established with a workplan focused on Carers specific issues including exploring potential options to further develop a centralised register, inclusive of both adult and young carers.

Many of the purposed reforms to adult social care are subject to confirmation of funding and will therefore require prioritisation and planning, and longer-term budget stability to ensure realistic delivery.