Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To be absolutely clear, we have a two-option process for persons aged 62 years and older. The option chosen is entirely at the person's discretion. If he or she wants to avail of an activation scheme and are currently involved in such a scheme, he or she would be expected to continue in that regard. If he or she does not wish to opt for an activation scheme, he or she does not have to so opt. This might, in particular, be the case for people who are a little older. They will go to their local social welfare office and thousands of Deputy Willie O'Dea's constituents will have had this experience. They will be told their options and asked which one they wish to choose. We must remember that some people, when aged more than 62 years, if they have, for instance, been working outdoors or on the heavy side of the construction industry, may not wish to take on heavy work again. They might, on the other hand, wish to be involved in something like a community employment scheme.

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