Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I prefer local companies, local food and local suppliers to be providing their local school. That is what I like to see encouraged.

On CWOs, I am working on that. I do not disagree entirely. The CWOs do fantastic work and as has been said, we are very lucky with the CWOs across County Mayo. The challenge, in terms of the formal way of doing things, however, is that when they are going around, it can be hard for somebody to get them and catch up with them. The challenge is to strike a balance between geographical spread and availability and ensuring that they are there in the Intreo office or via the local Intreo office. I am working through all those issues. I suspect that most Deputies have had similar experiences and we will engage with them around that.

On domiciliary care being available from 16 to 18 years, as Members will know DCA is a monthly non-means tested payment for the parent or guardian of a child who is 16 years. We will increase the allowance by €20 to bring the total sum up to €380, from next January. The reason DCA currently ceases when a child reaches 16 years is that it aligns with the age of eligibility for disability allowance. The thinking behind that is if it is a lifelong disability then that person can apply for DA in his or her own right from the age of 16. The DA application can be made three months ahead of the 16th birthday to ensure there is a continuity of payment. Proposals were made previously to extend the upper age limit for DCA to 18 and change the disability allowance at the same time. They are something that are worth further consideration but they are not being considered at the moment.

We have discussed the fuel allowance and the household composition previously, and I think that was last Thursday. As of now I need to target those incomes. This year, we are expanding the fuel allowance into the working family payment. That is one of the biggest expansions of it in some time and in this remit. That is the trajectory I would go.