Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----so as to avoid any embarrassment to anybody.

In the first case, the unfortunate situation was that a young person had to become the statutory carer for the remaining siblings in the family and, in fact, had to become their guardian and take on guardianship responsibilities. In those circumstances, there is no more pressing case that I can think of where the maximum payment applicable should be paid, and it was not done. Even after two attempts, it still was not done. I ask the Minister of State to have a look at the case because, having been in a previous incarnation an incumbent in exactly the same position in which he is now, I can assure him strange things happen when one looks closely at the smaller print.

The second case, where all the children in the household were very young, involved very difficult circumstances. They also had nowhere to turn to except the statutory authorities that can be relied on in these circumstances. It goes without saying that where a child dies, as the Minister of State rightly said, it is particularly tragic for any family, but, also following two visits, the payment did not come near what was required to make an indent of some consequence on the cost of the funeral expenses.

I ask that the Minister of State have a look at both of those cases. I guarantee that he will find adequate support for what I have said.

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