Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I plead with the Taoiseach on the matter today. This is what the debate is about; for people to listen to what we are saying and to take on board some of it, at least a bit of it. Of all the things that have been done, I urge the Government to restore the respite grant because it is paid to people who care on a 24/7 basis for relatives, people with severe disabilities and for people with special needs. We must do that if we respect the caring ethos, which is fundamental to how we look after the elderly in this country, and those with special needs. In many instances the State is not doing all it would like for carers and people who need care. Given what people across the floor are saying, the Government has time to do so in the context of the social welfare Bill. We will table amendments to secure the reversal of the decision and the restoration of the grant. We brought the grant up to the current level because it can be helpful to people, even those who are not in receipt of carer's allowance. Most of the people contacting offices this morning say the payment is used for basic things such as heating, transport and to keep the household going. It is important that the Taoiseach would examine the issue again.

In the third-largest Department, Education and Skills, cuts are once again being targeted at disadvantaged families and communities. The increases in third level fees will continue and now an effort is being made to ensure that more and more families have to pay the fees. Combining an increase in fees with a reduction in eligibility for grants means that the reversal of advances in equal access will be accelerated. I do not understand why such a sneaky, underhand move was made on the means threshold for third level grants because education will be central to coming out of this crisis. We want young people to continue on to third level and fourth level. Due to the mess caused by SUSI for the first time in a long time I have met students on the street who said they were contemplating leaving college.

See this speech in context