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

It is utterly wrong and bordering on the bizarre to say that anybody who is paid social insurance will never have a difficulty in meeting funeral expenses. That is completely incorrect. Many people who are on low wages and already paying social insurance are supported by FIS. A family's circumstances can change. That is absurd.

I am afraid a campaign will not do the business. There is no point in having a campaign. The people I am talking about are already aware of the burial grant. They come to me and other public representatives to look for the burial grant. In my area when we apply for the burial grant, we find that relatively early in the year the Department is saying that most of the money it intended to spend on this has already been spent. I know it is demand-led and it is supposed to be open-ended. The Minister mentioned €5 million for last year. Will she get me the figures going back?