John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 14, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: “Review of the criteria to qualify for the Treatment Benefit Scheme

20. The Minister shall conduct a review and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the current criteria in place in order to qualify for Treatment Benefit and specifically to examine the number of contributions required for 25-65 year olds and that the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection within 6 months of the enactment of this Act.”.

My amendment seeks a review of the criteria to qualify for the treatment benefit scheme. There are different timescales for different age groups. However, the one that really gets to me is the 25 to 60 year age group because those in it must make 260 contributions before becoming entitled to any benefit. I have spoken to many people about this matter. It is a fact that children are starting school at a later age, that transition year is nearly mandatory in all schools and that an ever increasing number of people are attending college. How many graduating from college will have 260 contributions made at the age of 25 years? The answer is very few, which is why I have asked for the qualifying criteria to be reviewed. I am not sure how they were arrived or for how long this problem has persisted. The number of contributions may have been fit for purpose a number of years ago, but it is not now. A swathe of people educate themselves and find employment to try to further themselves, but, unfortunately, they are precluded from receiving any benefit by virtue of not having made 260 contributions. Therefore, a review would be very beneficial.