Mr. John McKeon:

One thing for the Deputy to consider in her thoughts on policy is that our Department provides income supports for people who cannot work. Their income supports are not payment for work, if she gets my point. What the Deputy is talking about is a payment for the performance of the work of a carer. Whether that is appropriate to this Department or not is an issue, to be honest. We provide income support. There is challenge and inequity perspective from a policy perspective. If somebody cannot work because they are disabled, they get one payment. If they cannot work because they are caring should they get a higher payment? What the Deputy is really talking about is a payment for caring. The cost of caring and the cost of providing supports for carers, whether in a residential setting or a home setting, is really an issue for the Department of housing.