Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This morning the Carers Association is presenting its pre-budget submission across the road in Buswells Hotel. I have just come from that event and in its submission it requests 34 changes. I will not go through all of them, but they include recognising family carers as an exceptional group, implementing the national carers strategy, reviewing the fair deal scheme and restoring the respite care grant to the figure of €1,700. Major issues for the association are the provision of support for carers caring for those with a mental illness, basing eligibility for a medical card on need rather than income and flat rate prescription charges. Many other changes are requested, but these are the ones that come to mind and that I recognise as being very important. In the discussions and debate as we move towards budget 2015 it is very important that the House discuss and debate these issues. If the economy continues to grow at its current rate, there will room for manoeuvre. The submission made by the Carers Association should receive priority in order that we can help the neediest in society in budget 2015. I am asking whoever will be Minister for Social Protection in the coming weeks to come to the House to discuss this issue before we break for the summer and sit down to decide the terms of budget 2015.