Ms Deirdre Archbold:

When the medical card was done, a new medical card form was given for children with the domiciliary allowance. It was a two-page form. You filled it in, your doctor ticked it and that was sent in. Why can that not be done for carer's allowance? Parents do not look after each other. The majority of us do not have the €50 or €60 needed to see a doctor if we are not well. We need to look after ourselves in order that we can look after our children. I guarantee that there are many parents out there who are carers and who will not apply for the GP card because they will have to go through a means test again. They are afraid they will lose the little financial support they get.

I have to have the heat on when my child is at home because he cannot get sick. If he gets sick, he gets a temperature and has a seizure. During our previous meeting up there, they were discussing sudden death in children with epilepsy. The first thing you are told when your child is diagnosed with epilepsy is there is a 15% chance they will not wake up in the morning. How can I afford to put the heat on with the prices? He is not entitled to fuel allowance because by husband has a job. He is getting the disability allowance and that is written on the disability application form. If there is anyone who works in the household, you are not entitled to the fuel allowance.