Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am aware of that but I am offering it as a contrary viewpoint.

Many of the allowances for new entrants which are on the table for abolition are for nurses. What is the wisdom behind abolishing the midwifery allowance, for example, when the focus now is on primary and care in the community and the maternity hospitals are under absolutely incredible strain? In 2011, 924 persons were in receipt of this midwifery allowance at a cost of €2.3 million, an allowance which was not pensionable.