Mr. Damien Douglas:

One thing mentioned by Ms Ryan was that her child does not have a medical card. That appears to be disgraceful. I do not know if that comes under the remit of this committee, but the fact that the medical card is not available causes big problems. That is one thing. Why is there no medical card? It cannot be means tested; it should be based on the needs of the person. Second, if the means test cannot be abolished, the bands should definitely be widened. That would make a big difference to many people.

The third is specifically to take into account the huge cost involved in providing the care. I have to replace a wheelchair van in the coming year. It is going to cost me the guts of €45,000. That comes from money that I am means tested on already. I have saved it because I knew this was coming. People have had to pay for their own equipment. That should not happen. Why should we be penalised? I cannot have steak on a Sunday because I have to pay for my van next week or next year or I have to put diesel in it. I am being facetious, but one is constantly concerned about the cost of living normally, not to mind the extra costs that result from providing care, about which there is no choice. One has to do it. My girls cannot give me any other options. They cannot tell me what their will and preferences are. I have to look after them in every way possible. If the costs involved in the cost of caring could be taken into account, that would be a massive advantage.