Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

The living alone allowance is only one aspect in terms of what could be lost if somebody moved in with someone living alone. For example, they could lose their entitlement to local authority waiver schemes and some of the free schemes. The Minister is taking the social policy view but it is a wider issue than the payment that is made. I am not convinced it is a solid argument when we consider what could be lost, nor am I convinced that increasing the allowance would be a disincentive to having somebody live with the person living alone. The waiver and other free schemes are probably a greater disincentive if the Minister is making that argument. I am not arguing that people should not have those payments or be entitled to a waiver but the Minister's argument does not stand up.

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