Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy O'Mahony for sharing time. I am glad to be able to support his call in respect of this matter, which I raised on the Adjournment some time ago. I compliment the Minister on coming before the House to reply to this matter. That is a dying practice among her colleagues nowadays.

As a caring person, the Minister will be more aware than others of what is involved where a person is obliged to care for his 83-year-old mother and another relative who is suffering from cancer. I would not have found it extraordinary if there had been a disqualification in respect of one of the patients in this case. It is amazing, however, that both patients were disqualified, one on the grounds of not being in need of care — even though she is 83 years of age — and the other on the grounds that the carer was not entirely occupied. The fact is that the carer could not leave the family home. He was obliged to spend all of his time there caring for his mother and brother. If the man in question were working outside the home — which he could do — the carees would have to be placed in institutional care, which would result in a cost on the State.

I urge the Minister to order a further oral hearing to ensure that the case is fully and properly heard. My comments are not a reflection on those responsible for hearing the case on the previous occasion. Rather they are designed to give the appellant an opportunity to state the case again, notwithstanding the fact that the decisions have already been made.

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