Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and acknowledge the positive work he is doing.

The Minister of State used the phrase "those with the greatest needs" a number of times in his statement. He said there was a clear instruction from Government that eligibility was to focus on those with the greatest needs. The Minister of State also said, however, that to make the criteria for the scheme very broad would open up new categories of eligibility and he was worried about the effects of that cost. Is it the case that from a situation where one is trying to help people, the result would be to narrow the parameters of those who would be helped because of the over-reaching arm and influence of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this area? If I am correct in reading between the lines of what the Minister of State has said, this would mean that those who require help would end up on the outside due to a fear that the scheme will spiral out of control. Naturally, the Minister of State's role includes issues of cost. The rationale is to allow people to participate fully in the workforce and socially facilitate them leading a full life. Is there an over-reaching arm that would restrict the capacity of the scheme to achieve what the Ombudsman seeks, and what all public representatives are seeking on people's behalf?

The Minister of State spoke about estimating the number of recipients. Currently 4,700 people are receiving interim payments. How are the numbers of those likely to be eligible being calculated in the context of finalising the criteria? What is the final number likely to be? Is it being determined in terms of a cap on moneys available?

The Minister of State referred to helping those with the greatest need. Can he quantify that for the committee? I am especially worried about that and the number of people it might help, and what the Department of Public Expenditure's influence might be in that regard.

In outlining the rationale for this scheme, the Minister of State referred to people using public transport. He cited the example of people who are unable to use public transport. Even among those who can use public transport and who use it to get into the city, not every public transport vehicle can facilitate them, for instance, if they are using a wheelchair. It is hit and miss as to what kind of bus pulls up, especially on provincial routes to the city. That is unacceptable. The Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, have a role to play with Bus Éireann in ensuring people have this service. People are expected to ring ahead in advance of making journeys. We have a problem because of a semi-industrial relations issue with Bus Éireann where buses are not turning up, full stop, but if someone needs a particular type of bus in order to be able to travel to his or her job, too often he or she is unable to get on a bus because it lacks the means needed to board it.