Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make one final comment and I will allow everyone to make a final brief comment. As this committee is due to finish at 4 o'clock we have a tight schedule.

One of the clear issues to arise this morning is the call to reintroduce information officers within the Department of Social Protection. That was a tool that could provide advice right across the system but that is not there today. A reintroduction of information officers would significantly improve access to schemes. The unit is independent of the Department so information officers can provide independent advice.

As a constituent of mine was mentioned this morning, I will refer to the case. We did raise the case at our committee meeting three weeks ago when we had in an official called Mr. Niall Egan regarding the issue where a pensioner is being denied the State non-contributory pension because she pays for the care of her husband who is in a nursing home for the long term as part of the fair deal scheme. The Department has given a commitment to review the case and the legislation that governs same. Any solution will require an amendment to either the primary or second legislation. The case is being actively looked at because it is unfair that this person is effectively paying twice for the same care in a nursing home. I suggest we hear final comments from the representatives of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, Age Action Ireland and then ALONE.