Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. These cuts were made in the same week as those to the mobility allowance. It is amazing, insensitive, callous and targeting vulnerable people in the most ridiculous way. I heard the Minister of State say there are cuts across the board not just in her line responsibility but in every Department. When I measure that against some commentaries we heard in recent weeks, it is different, however. We had the deal on the promissory note, which we welcomed, but we doubted if it would have any immediate impact on the ground. That has since been borne out. With all the talk about the country having turned the corner and green shoots of recovery, these kinds of cuts hit at the heart of our society. I know Laois County Council gave a commitment to these grants by virtue of their available funding. This has been reduced over several years because of the demands and constraints on its budget. Letters were sent out in the county earlier this year in which many people were told they would have to wait three to five years for these grants.

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