Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)

The Minister outlined the work that is being done in his Department. I tried to take a note and now I cannot read it back. What I have written is a "strategic focus network". Is that what he said? Would it be possible, if he is not going to accede to the Deputy's amendment - the Minister is clearly not going to accede to any of them bar his own, which is grand - would it be possible for this committee to be updated on the work of that group? It is up to the Chair, but I think we will be holding plenty of hearings in relation to the cost of disability.

Just for the Minister's own information, there was a big publicity campaign to advise people about energy credits. The Government was not as quick to do the same campaign to advise people that they are not getting them. People have been in my office telling me they cannot afford to pay their bills like the 300,000 people who are already in arrears as we head into winter. For them, the withdrawal of those vital energy supports will mean in some instances that they will be cold in their homes. This is a particular issue for people with disabilities, but is there some way for the committee to track the work the Department is doing? It is in the programme for Government and it is something we would like to see the Government deliver on, but it is also something about which the committee will have an input, along with the disability matters committee.