I congratulate the Minister on her initiative of bringing in a pension for those on carer's allowance, but I would like to see progress on two other programme for Government commitments. I refer to the proposal to extend free GP care to those on the carer's support grant and to develop a carer's guarantee that will provide a core basket of services across the country. I ask the Minister to sit down with her ministerial colleagues to develop that. What we need at local level is a family care partnership for family carers where they can register, share information and get flexible support. That is a missing piece, not unlike the community welfare service. That sort of flexibility is not there to support family carers.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We have improved the supports available to carers considerably in recent years.

I know the Deputy welcomed the carer's pension that is now going to come into place. It is very important to recognise the huge sacrifices many have made in caring for their loved ones, particularly parents of children with disabilities. We have also expanded a number of other supports in terms of the means tests and have increased the limits and amount of money a person can have in savings.

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has committed €1.9 million to a carer's guarantee. Within that is a fund for respite for carers. That is very important. I will bring the issue the Deputy raised to the Minister.