Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Several serious points have been raised and I would like to pick on the one made by Deputy Shortall. We all know there are certain Departments whose work results in a lot of activity in our constituency offices. The Department of Social Protection will be such a Department for all of us. It is outrageous that people who are struggling for a long time to get a decision on an invalidity pension or carer's allowance could have their decision delayed further by virtue of a measure like this. Will the embargo be lifted to recruit extra staff for the Department of Social Protection? Has the cost of the extra staff been worked out and will it be included in the amount counted in terms of EU spending rules? If not, why not?

With regard to the conservation element, Deputy Barry Cowen has already made my point. He questioned the notion of calling the grant a conservation grant when there is no relationship between it and conservation whatsoever. Many of us believe we need to conserve water and we are well aware of how difficult it is. Dublin and north Kildare, for example, are in a similar position in that they both receive their water from Poulaphouca, in the main, and the treatment plant in Leixlip. The Minister has lost the argument on saving water through conservation. If we could save some water in this regard, it would prevent us from having to spend extra money. However, the money will be handed back to people like me if I make an application. That is totally wrong.

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