Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and welcome our guests. Much of this has been covered by Deputy Ó Cuív but there are a couple of issues to pick up on.

Carer's allowance is something I regularly deal with, as do other members, I am sure. Notwithstanding the new means test that will come into effect in June, I still hear from a lot of people who are getting very little in payment. Is carer's allowance being considered as part of the means test under review? We need to get to a stage where there is no means test for carer's allowance given the wonderful work they do. I would like to get a comment on carer's allowance and the current means test on that.

An issue I brought up the previous day was the fuel allowance. I gave an example of a pensioner who does not qualify for fuel allowance because their gross income is above the threshold, but when the tax they pay is taken off, they would qualify. The reply I got that day was the means test is based on gross. This person is not qualifying for the warmer homes scheme. They live in a 50-year-old house which needs upgrading and this disqualifies them. Maybe I could get a comment on this. It seems grossly unfair that this person is being deprived of such a scheme because they are being assessed on gross rather than net income, which they obviously cannot spend.

I get a lot of queries at clinics regarding requests for bank accounts where a lot of these bank accounts are closed for a long number of years. Some of them are 30 or 40 years old and those applying have to go through banks, some of which, such as Ulster Bank, have closed down. What access has the Department of Social Protection to bank accounts? Does the Department know the details of a person's bank accounts? Most important, does the Department not know they are closed? It is a stress for people when they are told they have to supply bank account details, they go into a bank or try to get in contact with a bank and are told that is closed for 30 or 40 years. Maybe the Department would comment on that.

I seek a comment on the means test review. It is ongoing. When will it finish? When do we expect the report?

On the capital disregard, which I note Deputy Ó Cuív touched on as well, I come across a lot people, as I am sure colleagues do as well, who have saved for that rainy day, be it their funeral expenses or whatever. That brings in another question on the funeral grant but I will concentrate on capital disregard. The first €20,000 threshold is way too low. How old is that figure? I presume it is 20-plus years old. Mr. Egan stated in reply that it is being reviewed. It obviously needs to increase because it is causing a lot of stress for people who have that €20,000 for the so-called rainy day. The capital disregard of €5,000 for supplementary welfare is way too low for the people I deal with who have that bit of savings for a rainy day, such as funeral expenses, but are being disallowed on payments because the capital disregard is set at €5,000.

I agree with what Deputy Ó Cuív is saying about a qualified adult. I have had three cases in recent weeks. In one case, people put their money into joint accounts and they did not get the maximum qualified adult payment. The other two cases, thankfully, had them in the one person's account and they did get it. There is an issue there.

My final question or comment is on standardisation of means tests. There are, in my experience, differences between what is called for in a number of payments and what is needed. Will the review concentrate on standardising the means test that would make it much easier for people when they come into my office and, I am sure, colleagues' offices? The number of questions they are asked in a means test, in some cases up to 20 questions, is beyond comprehension for many people. It needs to be standardised.