Carer plans ‘would not cost taxpayer’

A SERIES of “cost-neutral” policies should be introduced to help plug the gaps left by the scrapping of the national carers’ strategy, a leading support group has claimed.

On Tuesday, Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin said that due to the worsening economic crisis, the plan, first called for in 2004, would not be implemented.

Ms Hanafin and Health Minister Mary Harney claimed any publication would consist of “false promises” because no money was available.