Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from St. Vincent de Paul and Family Carers Ireland for joining us. I also thank the 500,000 carers in Ireland. It is important that we always thank those people providing care 24-7.

Staying with carers, I have been following up on refusals for carer's allowance recently. The latest figures I have show the rate of refusal at 50%, or even above it. There were some 18,700 applications in 2020, and more than 10,000 of those applications were refused. Mention was made earlier of the means test not having been changed since 2008. Obviously, the committee supports the need for change in that regard, and urgent change. Regarding those refusals of applications for carer's allowance, and in the experience of Family Carers Ireland, do the majority stem from issues with the means test or are some of them connected with the care being given and the length of time involved? I see a combination of those factors in respect of the applications for carer's allowance I deal with through my office. Recently, I had one case concerning a lady who was €9 above the means test limit. She had to adapt her house, improve her heating and change her food supply purchases to enable her to take in and look after her mother. That lady did not qualify for one cent from the State in supports. This is a major issue. I also raise the issue of those carers, the 51%, who get the maximum rate of €219. Perhaps the witnesses might comment regarding the average rate for those who do not get that maximum amounts, and what supports are available to them. I believe the rate can be as low as €10 per week, which is minuscule. It is important that we highlight that people are providing 24-7 care for €10 a week, which is unbelievable in this day and age.

Moving on to the representatives from St. Vincent de Paul, I thank them for everything they do. I will raise some points, including some aspects mentioned earlier. I ask the witnesses to comment on the growth of food banks and soup kitchens. We seem to be seeing food banks and soup kitchens opening in every small town and village. Unfortunately, that is where we are. What is St. Vincent de Paul coming across regarding the situation and the opening of these food banks and soup kitchens? Reference was also made to different social welfare payments. I will highlight one, namely, the clothing allowance. It is exceptional in being set at €100, when someone qualifies for it. However, general practitioners, GPs, are charging anything up to €25 or €30 to sign the form. That is totally wrong, and the situation should be looked at urgently. Equally, the whole area of exceptional needs payments must be examined. I had several cases at the weekend where people were struggling and did not know that they could qualify for an exceptional needs payment, especially older people. That is very important.

I turn now to the worrying figures brought to us this morning by the witnesses regarding the number of children in consistent poverty having grown to almost 100,000. The witnesses already referred to the importance of school meals, and particularly hot meals. The Government has put some funding into this area, but as we get out of this pandemic such school meals are going to be important. This is an aspect that must be targeted. Finally, from a rural point of view I am very interested in the €59 that St. Vincent de Paul referred to in respect of the cost of the car. I ask the witnesses to explain where that figure comes from. I live in rural Ireland and note the problem with rural transport. It is a major issue for all of us.