To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of (i) why 61 per cent of carers assessments offered in the last quarter were declined; (ii) the proportion of assessments that were declined by carers who are over 60 years of age; and to detail (iii) how he is addressing this trend.

(i) Quarterly Carers’ Statistics for Northern Ireland presents figures regionally and by Health and Social Care Trust in respect of carers assessments and reassessments that are offered, accepted / completed and declined. Table 5 of the Carers publication sets out the reasons for declining a carer's assessment https://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/publications/quarterly-carers-statistics-northern-ireland-july-september-2015.

(ii) My Department does not collect the reason for declining by age group of the carer, only by Programme of Care (POC) of the cared for person.

(iii) With a view to driving improvements in this area an annual target has been included in the Commissioning Plan Direction requiring a 10% increase in the number of carers assessments offered, as compared to the previous year. It is not considered appropriate to set a target for “uptake” as carers have a right to decline assessment if they do not wish to have one completed. Notably, in the latest carers publication the reason given most frequently for declining an offer of a carers assessment was that the carer feels that they do not need any support or additional support. a