Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)

When he has seen wrong, he put it right. I am sure the Minister will thoroughly consider this issue.

Another issue that requires urgent examination is that of grant aid to community groups for pendant alarms, security chains and door locks for elderly people. I do not know if the Minister is fully aware that he has halved the amount of funding available for community groups to do this important work in the past two or three years. Pendant alarms, security chains, locks and the idea of security in the home are crucial for the elderly. It is a shame the funding available has been reduced during the Minister's watch. He should consider the matter carefully. It is a good scheme which works well and efficiently, and gives a great feeling of security to the elderly.

The Department of Finance answered a recent question of mine in regard to employers who have not paid their PRSI contributions. The amount outstanding is approximately €170 million. That is a great deal of money but, remarkably, the Minister for Finance who answered the question, referred to it as a small amount of money. This is like the position of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dempsey, who, when referring to the €150 million wasted on the health service, said it was not much money. The €170 million should be in the social insurance fund but it is not, yet it is said to be a small amount.

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