Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

When I spoke last evening I referred to the need for the Minister to have regard to how the rent support system operates. Some young vulnerable couples have to supplement their rent almost to the extent of 50% of their disposable income which is generated by social welfare payments. This has been brought to the Minister's attention before but the time has come to do something about it, particularly as rents in my area, and presumably elsewhere too, have increased by up to €300 per month in the past four or five months. No attention has been given to this just as the allowances on the medical cards are stuck.

Those who provide care for their loved ones over a long time need to be considered. In my constituency a lady cared for her daughter for 24 years until her daughter's death. That woman devoted her life to providing a service that the State would otherwise have had to provide, at great personal sacrifice but because she has not made social welfare contributions she does not receive a pension. Sadly, that situation is replicated many times around the country. Will the Minister examine the possibility of allowing credits as contributions to qualify a person who cares for a relative, or anybody else, for a social welfare pension? There is provision for the person who leaves insurable employment to do that and return to it later. There is nothing for the person who has not contributed. This requires urgent attention.

We boast of being one of the richest nations in the world. We should consider the requirements for the contributory old age pension. People often do not have contributions of the required status to qualify for the pension. They might have J1 contributions or others that qualify them for payment as widows and orphans. This causes great hardship. It also applies to the invalidity pension which is based on contributions. A young person who suffers a stroke but does not have the relevant contributions has no means of making them without returning to work. Will the Minister ascertain the extent to which the thresholds can be moved to bring extra people into the net? These people have done no wrong but have contributed to society and deserve to be treated well by one of the richest countries in the world.

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