Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said, it was only with difficulty and pressure from home and abroad that I was able to avoid reducing the benefits during the bad times we had come through. The figures I gave were for the numbers who had benefited from the scheme in 2014. I cannot give the Deputy a commitment that the the scheme will be reviewed. However, we receive submissions from the organisations that have been in touch with the Deputy in advance of budgets and always review these matters. In the context of the next budget and as a matter of routine, we will be reviewing everything, but I am not making a commitment that there will be a change.

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