Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this very important matter. I meet people weekly at clinics and I hear of the recovery but people on pensions and other various payments are, unfortunately, not feeling the benefit of any recovery. I certainly hope in the forthcoming budget, there will be what I would call a substantial and fair increase for people on different payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. That is very important.

Today I had three phone calls from families who were not ringing for the fun of it. They were asking about the bereavement grant and if such a grant was available. I was very sorry to tell them that there is no bereavement grant but a case may be made individually and people may be able to get some funding. To be honest, the bereavement grant should never have been taken away and it should certainly be restored. I heard the Taoiseach today saying we have seen nothing until we see what his Government does over the next period of time. If he wants to show that his heart is in the right place, he should please restore the bereavement grant.

There is one anomaly that comes up an awful lot, which is where people, through no fault of their own, are affected by some error made in filling out a form. There is some mistake and there is nothing devious or underhand about it but, all of a sudden, these people might owe the State €500, €5,000 or €15,000. They are left struggling. I know that if money is owed to the State, it must be repaid. There is a minimum amount that can be accepted. I ask that for people in bad, tough or dire circumstances, the rule be relaxed. In other words, no case should be the same. If people find they must repay money to the State, they should at least be given a proper and lengthy opportunity to repay an amount they can afford.

I also want to have my say on women who have worked very hard in homemaking. I appreciate the homemaker scheme but it is too restrictive as it only takes into account a certain number of years. People who had families before or after that period are unable to avail of it, which is wrong. Those people worked hard and brought the next generation into this world. They should be entitled to a full pension, the same as anybody else as they worked at home, doing what is probably one of the most important jobs in raising their families.

I use this opportunity to pay a very special compliment and tribute to a very important group of people who work as our community welfare officers in different communities, whether it is in Kenmare, Killarney, Gneevgullia, Killorglin or elsewhere.

They are really in touch with their communities and doing great work. They deal with stressful situations every day and it is not often that they are recognised in Dáil Éireann. However, I extend my compliments to them as they are doing a great service for the State. The one thing I am terrified of is that the great work being done by community welfare officers would be centralised. They have a great and in-depth knowledge of their local areas and the people they are representing and I want them to be there into the future.

I support what my brother, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, said, that the biggest insult of all to a person who soldiered very hard and worked to the age of 65 years is that they are told that there is no transition pension between the ages of 65 and 66 years. It is an insult. It is crazy that they are told that they should be retiring but that they must go on jobseeker's benefit. It is morally wrong and an insult to people who have worked hard. The transition pension between the ages of 65 and 66 years should be brought back and people treated with the respect they deserve.

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