Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I concur with what the previous two speakers said. One can sit down and do the simple mathematics here, taking the case of a couple, both on old age pensions. One can see that, in comparison to somebody on a pension living alone, their circumstances are astronomically better. Nobody suggests for one minute that where there is a couple living together on a pension they should suffer in any way. If there is one group, apart from children, in danger of living in consistent poverty, it is people who rely on State benefit and live alone. As Deputy Enright rightly said, the cost of heating one's accommodation is the same, repairs and maintenance are the same and the cost of food is the same. There are all the expenses of a household but on a very limited income. The living alone allowance is the way to deal with this. That way, no other group is detrimentally affected.

We must take a serious look at this. It is not right to allow this group of people to suffer. They have been there all along and it is ten years since this allowance was increased. It is very worrying that the Minister has allowed this situation to happen. The allowance is the mechanism to treat it. I urge the Minister to take a serious look at this and to accept the amendment.

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