David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I ask for more details on the Minister's plans regarding the qualified adult allowance and the promise to bring it up to the full allowance. He has said this will happen over a number of budgets. Given that the promise was made three years ago, how many budgets will it take for this to happen? While I am glad the Minister has acknowledged that women, particularly older women, are at risk of poverty when compared with men, what does he intend to do to help people in such a situation? What are the plans and timescale for the qualified adult allowance and for helping older women at risk of poverty or in poverty because of the vulnerability acknowledged by the Minister?

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