Annual Carers’ Forum

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) hosts the Annual Carers’ Forum each year, bringing together officials from DSP and other relevant government departments and agencies, carer representative groups and individual family carers.

The purpose of the Forum is to provide carers with a voice at policy level. It also provides an opportunity for engagement between officials and people experiencing care issues first-hand.

The Annual Carers’ Forum forms part of the DSP’s commitments under the National Carers’ Strategy (NCS). This is a cross-departmental strategy, led by the Department of Health, that sets the direction for future policies, services and supports provided by government departments and agencies for carers.

The Annual Carers’ Forum 2024 took place on Wednesday 22 May and can be viewed below:

(L to R: Teresa Leonard - Deputy Secretary General DSP, Zoe Hughes – CAI, Clare Duffy - FCI, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, Liam O’Sullivan – CEO, CAI and Catherine Cox – FCI)

A note of the proceedings of the Annual Carers’ Forum 2024 along with the presentations made on the day by Care Alliance Ireland (CAI) and Family Carers Ireland (FCI) are available below.

Note on Annual Carers’ Forum 2024

Care Alliance Ireland –The Online Family Carer Support Group Ireland – 4 Years On

Family Carers Ireland – Building a Community of Caring Employers

This year’s Annual Carers’ Forum took place on Wednesday 17 May 2023 and it can be viewed online here.

A Note of the proceedings of the Annual Carers’ Forum 2023 is available below, along with the presentations made on the day by Care Alliance Ireland and Family Carers Ireland.

Note on Annual Carers' Forum 2023

Care Alliance Ireland: Re-emerge The Next chapter is for you

Family Carers Ireland Presentation: Intensive Support Service An Overview and Case Study

The Annual Carers’ Forum 2022 was held online on 31 May 2022.

A Note of the proceedings of the Annual Carers’ Forum 2022 is available to read below.