Mr. Michael Rainey:

The Deputy has me targeted. I will have to come back to her with specific figures for Kilkenny and our county in terms of the allocations. She is right when she talks about the challenges of getting in occupational therapists. As a local authority, we do not have that skill set in house so we are dependent on those reports. I recognise that it is difficult for some families to get those OT reports. What I do know on the ground, though, is that when there is a really challenging case, there is a good relationship between us and the HSE to get those OT reports brought forward or prioritised for specific cases.

The Department is in the middle of a review of the grants. Cost inflation is one of the key considerations. The Deputy would know that well. I have had many cases where there is that specific rule as regards the age limit of 66 and there is no discretion as a local authority to go beyond that. We are bound by the rules and regulations set out and whatever comes out of this review, but if the rules are broadened, if the number of people who can come forward and get funding under the schemes is broadened, you also need to broaden the overall funding net. Otherwise, you just end up with more applications and not enough money going out to the key people.