Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is a very useful engagement because it is very useful to tease these issues out. Generally, I very much accept and believe what the Department is stating in terms of the objectives here in ensuring that the low rate of people with disabilities entering into employment is increased by the provision of supports, that no one will see a reduced payment and that the objective is not cost saving. I very much accept the bona fides. However, it is worth acknowledging that there are certain parallels with the British approach. I do not say that as an accusation or as conjecture. I accept that is coming from a different philosophy. Some people have ascribed it to the Tories, but it was actually a UK Labour Party Government that brought it in under James Purnell. The philosophy there was focused on cost saving. I do not believe, or at least I certainly hope, that is not what is intended here. However, one can understand that for people who are expressing concerns, there are certain parallels. There are medical assessments and three tiers. There are those parallels at the very least.

This is my first question. Does Mr. Hession anticipate the numbers claiming in all three categories - I think we are calling them personal support payments - being broadly equivalent to the 250,000 claiming the various payments at the minute? Does he see that being much the same or more or less in terms of overall customers, if that is the phrase we are using? Does he see any significant change or any change at all in that?