Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

As ever, the Taoiseach has not answered my questions. The matter is not the rate at which the allowance is payable but the awarding of it. I hope the Taoiseach is aware of the considerable distress caused to families throughout the country by letters referring to a review of the award of the allowance. I note that the Taoiseach has accepted that the process by which the allowance is awarded is flawed, lacks transparency and must be reformed. Meanwhile, he must provide some level of reassurance for families with children who have severe disabilities that their payment is not under threat. I ask him to make that commitment. Meanwhile, the review of the process is under way. Will the Taoiseach make a commitment that no family will have the domiciliary care payment withdrawn? That is a straightforward question to which he must give a straightforward answer.

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