Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for the response but we should get a few facts straight and sing from the same hymn sheet. I have been elected to this Dáil, not the previous Dáil. I carry no candle for the previous Administration, although that is no reflection on the various and many improvements which have accrued to this State from its time in office. It is high time the Minister and her colleagues began to take cognisance of the fact that they head the current Administration, having been elected to this Dáil. They should take responsibility for the current position.

The people of Laois-Offaly elected me to represent them and I will continue to do so. My party has also asked me to take responsibility for the social protection portfolio, and I take soundings from my colleagues. I have some examples of our current position. I will not talk about what was the case, what brought about our current position or anything like that, as I was elected to this Dáil.

An applicant for the domiciliary care allowance in respect of her son in September 2010 had it refused in October 2010. The decision was appealed and to date no decision has been made on her claim. Having phoned the social welfare appeals office on numerous occasions we have been advised that the case is with the chief appeals officer for decision, with an instruction to call back in a few days. There has been no decision. An applicant for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of her son in June 2010 was refused in August 2010 and the decision was appealed on medical grounds; a decision was only reached two weeks ago and I am thankful the allowance was awarded.

An application for disability allowance was refused and the decision was appealed on medical grounds in 2010, with a listing for an oral hearing on 27 November. That applicant is still waiting to be called for an oral hearing. Only this week a 92-year-old woman being cared for by her son had care withdrawn, and the parties sought for the decision to be reviewed within the three-week period. There was advice from staff that this would be pointless, and that it should be appealed, with an 18-month wait.

These are just some examples and the Minister's colleagues and party can give similar cases. There are lists of questions on the Order Paper every day dealing with similar cases throughout the country. Irrespective of where we came from, the Minister has the current responsibility in this regard, so she has the responsibility to act appropriately.

See this speech in context