Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Chair mentioned my earlier statement on the PUP. It is not just the PUP, but also the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, and the other supports. The Chair is right there. I came under pressure at the time and it was said that people were not going to work because they were getting the PUP. The truth is that when jobs were available and the economy opened up again, people went straight back and we are at the lowest unemployment figures for a long time. There are more people working than ever before. I know there were concerns out there. I spoke to people who said they could not get staff because they were on the PUP but when the jobs came and the economy opened up, they went off it quickly. Most people want to work.

On the additional needs payment, the Chair mentioned getting one form and then having to fill in another form. I do not want to hear that and that should not be happening. It is disappointing. There is no deliberate attempt, I believe, to not give people their payments. We did an extensive campaign on the radio telling people what they were entitled to. This is the State's safety net to support people who find themselves in difficult circumstances. To get two sets of forms out for a blind person, it is hard to understand that. If the Chair wants to give me the details, I am happy to follow up that because that should not be happening. I will get the details from the Chair.