Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil an buiséad seo ag cur isteach ar dhaoine áirithe. Tá sé soiléir freisin nach bhfuil sé ag cur isteach ar dhaoine eile in aon chor. The first point I would make is that the principle of equality should be driving budgets. There is a real need for significant equality-proofing when it comes to budgets. I acknowledge that the basic rates paid to the elderly, such as the fuel and travel allowances, were not touched. Those positives have been undermined by the cuts that have been made and are affecting people. There was visible proof of that today when a massive attendance gathered outside the Dáil.

These cuts are eating into the independence and dignity of the lives of elderly people in our communities. We should reflect on the lives these people have had. Many of them have worked very hard throughout their lives while rearing their children. I know that significant numbers of elderly people are bringing up their grandchildren in parts of central Dublin because of addiction issues and because of suicide rates. Many of these people are also involved in major work in their communities. I acknowledge the women, in particular, who have been the backbone of voluntary services throughout their lives. We are acknowledging that by adding stress, distress and anxiety to their lives.

I wish to comment briefly on the medical card issue. I have heard incredible stories about medical cards being taken from people of limited means in their 70s and 80s who have illnesses and disabilities. It is stressful for them to have to fill in forms and do additional work to prove that their cards should not have been taken from them in the first place. A realistic approach is needed in this regard.

The withdrawal of the telephone allowance affects elderly people who depend on landlines for their alarms. We are talking about people of limited means. Disability groups are particularly concerned about this measure. People of limited means need the telephone allowance to enable them to keep their landlines. They depend on the landline to connect to the Internet and get the information they need to live their lives. It gives them a social connection as well. The prescription charge is increasing substantially, from €1.50 to €2.50. I appreciate that the maximum amount that can be paid in a single month is €25 , but that is a significant amount of money for a person of limited means.

I would like to make another point before I finish. The One Family organisation has pointed out that the replacement of the one-parent family tax credit is a retrograde step because it will punish separated parents who take a collaborative approach to the rearing of their children. This decision needs to be reconsidered because it is causing massive difficulty. We have received e-mails in that regard. I suggest we could pay for this if we could collect the entire 12.5% rate of corporate tax. We do not collect it all, however. It is difficult to get information on this matter. If we collected all of this tax, we would have enough money to ensure the elderly are not affected by these cutbacks.

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