Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputy Durkan.

I am pleased to contribute to this important Bill, which is central to the way we run our business and which allows us to raise crucial issues on the economy. There are many issues which I would have liked to deal with but I will focus on the following.

We live in a time when unemployment is increasing rapidly. Week in, week out across the country jobs are being lost in various industries. With so many unemployed, a matter which has come to my attention, and at which the Government needs to look, is the pressure on older people. While the fair deal Bill has been published and is ready to be debated, we need to address the training of people with skills in keeping older people living in their communities.

I was taken aback recently by the amount of people who have come to me who have difficulties regarding their parents, uncles, aunts and neighbours who wish to live in the community. At a time when there are vast numbers of people unemployed, many women would take up the role of carers to such people. However, we lack such provision. The budget, and this Bill, was an ideal opportunity to do something. Rather than pay people unemployment benefit, we should be doing something to help our older people. From what I read of the new fair deal, it is cumbersome and it will involve a significant cost to the taxpayer. I ask the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, to look at that in the near future because it could have a significant impact on many ordinary people. I have also spoken about the fuel allowance which should cover a longer period. We have wetter, colder and longer winters and this year is particularly bad. Although some oil companies have reduced the cost of fuel, we still have the dearest fuel in Europe. The cost of a barrel of oil has dropped substantially but the consumer is still charged a large amount for oil. The fuel allowance does not go far enough to help our older people. I know we are living in harsh economic times but I implore the Minister to examine this matter.

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