Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I take it that the Minister is saying in his reply that he will not consider paying it to people in receipt of disability benefit for more than six months. The question was about whether the Minister would consider making the payment. It is a short-term measure but some of the people who avail of this benefit could be on it for up to two years or longer. It is called short-term but it is not really that. My suggestion in the question was about anyone on it for more than six months. That is a long time for a single person to survive on benefit of €140.80 a week with possibly an extra €100 for a married person or spouse. There is difficulty involved, especially at Christmas time. I understand it is a matter of finances but perhaps the Minister should examine this issue, even if it is too late for this year. The way the system rolls out at the moment is unfair. To be on that benefit for six months is a long time. We all know poverty is incremental and so on and the hardship involved.

I presume when this scheme was originally implemented it was on the basis that the Department did not want people going on sick benefit prior to Christmas or whatever. However, if someone is on it for six months, he or she is genuinely sick. The Minister will appreciate that if someone is sick for that length of time, all types of extra costs are involved. That was the reason for the question. I suppose it is the difference between being Santa or Scrooge coming up to Christmas. An opportunity exists and it should be put right. I do not know whether this may be done in the light of the Minister's current budget proposals, but if he cannot do something this year, perhaps he could consider it for next year.

See this speech in context