Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Feely for her presentation, which told us much of what we know. We have been hearing the same thing every year since 2013. Ms Feely spoke about a generation of women who have been let down by the State through the marriage ban and the absence of child care options. Notwithstanding the poor provision of child care now, child care was non-existent for many of the women in question. The changes made in 2012 are the final insult.

Age Action makes two recommendations. What would be the cost of reversing the 2012 changes and backdating payments? How many people would be affected if the recommendation to backdate the homemaker's scheme to 1968 or 1973 were implemented and how much would such a measure cost?

I will focus briefly on a number of non-pension issues that affect older people. Fuel poverty is frequently raised, specifically the fact that the fuel allowance is not paid from March onwards, despite April often being a cold month, as was the case this year. Is the impact of this issue increasing in terms of Age Action's daily case book?

As the budgetary process recommences, what are Age Action's key priorities for older people?