Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Department supply figures for that item of expenditure since the abolition of the bereavement grant? Is that possible? The reason I ask is that when we raised the abolition of the bereavement grant initially with the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Burton, she said people would be taken care of from the exceptional needs fund. It was my experience at constituency level that even when the bereavement grant, which was €800, was there, many people who came to me needed extra assistance because of the rising costs relating to funerals. The extra assistance they have been getting does not reflect the fact the bereavement grant has been abolished. I would like the Department to send those figures to me.

On the total increase in the allocation for working age income supports, the main item is jobseeker's allowance. Could the Minister give us an indication of how the figures for the reduction in jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit allocation break down? How are they offset by the increase that came into play in March?

I have a point on the discussions the Minister has had on compulsory retirement. A Bill has passed Second Stage and has been referred to committee. If the Government accepts the Bill and ensures that it is passed, any individual who wants to stay on in his current job would not have to go see solicitors and lawyers. An awful lot of people cannot afford that or to go to court. I take the Minister's point that a person can take up another job at 65, but there are not that many openings for 65 year olds. If we are serious about this, the legislation is there and it is pretty unambiguous. The proposers, Deputy Brady and I, are prepared to accept any reasonable amendments from the Government side. I do not know when the Bill in question was referred to committee but we are still waiting for movement on it. The ball is in the Government's court.

I welcome the increase in treatment benefits and maternity benefit. Much of the increased figure is as a result of that.

Is supplementary rent allowance dealt with under this heading?