Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are coming to the end of time and we must bring matters to a conclusion. I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee and the members for attending in person and online. The witnesses mentioned exceptional needs payments and the importance of them. They could be utilised to a greater extent than they have been in the past. There is a tendency for us all to presume that because we spent a lot of money on Covid, we can continue to do that. That is not going to happen, unless we want to go back to where we were in 2007: bankrupt. That would not be to the advantage of anybody. Therefore, we must proceed cautiously, carefully and prudently. We have to address the issues of people with disabilities and recognise people with disabilities. Again, the late Martin Naughton comes to mind. On the question of isolation, we all learned a bit about isolation in the course of the pandemic. It came home to us all. It applies to people with disabilities on an ongoing and daily basis, 365 days a year. It affects them in different ways. It is a terrible position to be in to be dependent on all around you for the simple things that other people take for granted.

I note, for instance, what we call the housing adaptation grant. There was also a disabled person's grant. Invariably, there is a shortfall. I cannot understand why there is a shortfall. I have been dealing with a case for the last six months where a certain amount of money was awarded. How they came to that amount of money, I do not know. The case has been appealed and appealed. The point is that since the decision was made, prices have gone up immeasurably, so it automatically follows that there needs to be a re-evaluation of the award. I am not saying that we have the answer. We have the answer to some things that need to be addressed. We should take the steps required. I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee and for making their feelings and responses known. We greatly appreciate that.