Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have not abandoned in any way the people the Deputy is talking about because in last year's budget, more than €5 million went specifically to helping people with burial allowances and funeral costs. The average payment was €3,800 per family who approached us. There is no cap on that. The Department did not have a budget of €5 million and it was not a case of refusing people if we got to €5 million. If more people have a need for funeral expenses or any of the costs associated with bereavement, that is what we are there for. The unexpected and unforeseen fits that category perfectly. If we need some sort of campaign to let people the Deputy is dealing with know it is available to them, I am very happy to do that.

However, I am not happy to spend €25 million or €30 million to reintroduce it in the way it was, paying it to people who do not need it, thereby reducing the amount of money I have to spend on the people the Deputy is talking about. I do not mean to be disrespectful to them. I know they work hard, as does everybody, but the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is supposed to be helping the people who have absolutely no other means but social welfare to help them get through difficult times. People who do not need it do not need the State to give them €850. That is my first gut feeling.

On the amendment, I am not even sure how I could compile the report the Deputy is requesting. He seems to be asking me to go back to all the people who would have got the €850 and ascertain how not getting it impacted them. I am genuinely not sure how I would do that, irrespective of whether it is bound by a timeline. I am not sure what I would be asking. I ask the Deputy to consider withdrawing the amendment. I would be happy for him to put in a suggestion that we should advertise in some way the supports that are genuinely available and to assure people there is no cap.

I believe Deputy Brady suggested that different criteria were being used in different areas. That is the case because Deputy Brady's needs will not be the same as Deputy Collins's needs. It is based on the individual's particular circumstances. There is not a cap of €100. I do not want to sound shallow, but it is about the individual person or family and we address it on the basis of their requirements. The average payment is €3,800.