Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Chairman has been generous with time. I am finished. I would like the other matters I raised to be addressed by the agency staff. They should have had that information today. Will Mr. Ó Foghlú confirm there will be a review of Caranua and the board and what is involved? Mr. O'Callaghan should review procedures as a matter of urgency and, at the very least, write to every applicant, whether repeat or otherwise, to clarify that his or her case has not been completed if he or she considers his or her needs have not been met. The procedures should be clarified. The term "case complete" is not appropriate and gives the wrong message.

It was said that the organisation had only had three years and that it was a new organisation but it was never going to be an old organisation because it was given a specific period of time in which to do its work. The extra nine months at the beginning was very helpful and then there were three years to roll out the process in the fairest and most consistent way possible but policy changes have built inconsistency and unfairness into the system. Some applicants have been allowed to apply for more while some have been given a limit. This has built inequity into the process which is totally and utterly against the letter and the spirit of the legislation under which the organisation operates.