There is a "major shortfall" in the number of family carers receiving State financial support which needs to be addressed, the organisation representing people in this situation has said.
Fewer than a third of all family carers receive State recognition or support for their caring commitments, according to the Carers Association.
The Government has committed itself to the development of a national family carers strategy in the Towards 2016 national agreement. It follows three years of lobbying by the association.
At the first national forum for family carers in Dublin yesterday, chief executive Enda Egan said only 45,000 of the estimated 140,000 family carers in the State received State support.
He said it was important that the strategy should be comprehensive and should cover the "financial, social, health and emotional needs of family carers".
