Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire. The Minister raised a number of issues. I was interested in the last point on the Keynesian model which we have discussed before. Social welfare acts as a stimulus to the local economy, as well as a support for those who depend on it. However, the corollary is that if there is any cut to it, in any shape or form, this also has an effect on the local economy. The cuts in social welfare in previous years and next year of €400 million or so will obviously have a negative impact not only on those who have become dependent on social welfare or who need it as a support but also on local economies.

The Minister has stated that at the height of the boom between 2004 and 2007 the share of households defined as jobless shockingly recorded a double digit increase to reach 15%. Is that 15% of the number unemployed or 15% of society? If it is the number of unemployed, the number has, in fact, dropped. It could be a greater percentage of a lower number.

I refer to processing times which we have debated in the context of family income supplement. Everybody who has applied for family income supplement will be delighted that the processing times have been reduced. However, the processing times and appeal times for medical claimants are still quite high, especially for those applying for carer's allowance. Given the distress the families concerned are often in because of medical circumstances, what steps can be taken to address the delay? Some 50% of decisions on medical claims which are rejected are overturned on appeal.