Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I recommended to the Government that carers would not be included in this group, because somebody who is caring full-time is not available for work. The key concept is to make provision for the expectation that most people would be in a position and be anxious to participate in some appropriate way in the labour force. Therefore, since becoming Minister I have introduced a number of additional options, for example, for people with a disability to take part in work and to encourage the development of supports for them to take up work. We must, however, remember that we are talking about making provision for people in a way that best assists them, taking into account their family circumstances.

The critical issue identified in the committee report, of which Deputy Ó Snodaigh was rapporteur, was that if we introduce a single age working payment, a prerequisite of the introduction of such a payment is the availability of appropriate supports and services. There may be a significant cost factor in that and there is ongoing examination of that issue in the Department. Since becoming Minister, I have had a look at all of the previous reports published and commissioned by the previous Government and I am examining the options carefully as to how to proceed. I am also taking into account the views of the Oireachtas sub-committee in its recent report on the matter.

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