Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Approximately 3,000 women are waiting on these payments. It is a time in people's lives when there are considerable extra costs. These women and their families are effectively being left without income. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has pointed to supplementary welfare and exceptional needs payments. In reality, though, and as he knows well, a great deal of these women and families will not qualify for those payments.

Will the Taoiseach commit to taking on the additional staff and directing community welfare officers to exercise additional discretion and give wider latitude in terms of those women who are affected by this unacceptable delay?

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