Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. She is correct to say this has gone on for far too long. It is not satisfactory. I will engage with the Minister for Finance to bring forward proposals to deal with the issue. It has had a long history. There was an earlier scheme in the 1990s that was broader. At that time, the then Department of Finance had views that it was too broad and it narrowed it. Most of us who have experience dealing with the current scheme, as it was in terms of the criteria and so on, accept that it is particularly narrow in terms of who can gain eligibility under the scheme. There are two elements. A review is needed of the criteria governing eligibility and the re-establishment of the board in the context of the conclusion of that review. There also need to be mechanisms to make sure people can process their applications and get outcomes in a timely manner. I will engage the Minister for Finance on this. The Deputy has raised a fair point. I acknowledge that and I will revert back to the Deputy.

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