Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have an opportunity to say a few words on the Social Welfare Bill 2017. In 2016, at the first opportunity I had, I raised the issue of the change in pension allowances introduced by Deputy Joan Burton in 2012. I know this was hotly debated last night and I think everybody that spoke in the Dáil raised this issue. There is an anomaly there. I know the Minister is genuine because I have heard her speak on this issue on numerous occasions. This is something which needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. I know there is a certain cost involved. These people had to give up work. In some cases they were forced to give up work. They had to rear children and whatever else and then had to go back into the workforce only to find that cruel changes to their pension entitlements had been introduced in 2012. It was especially cruel for a female Minister to introduce a rule which affected so many women. I know it is said that approximately 63% of those affected are women but I believe the percentage could be much higher than that. It is said that 38% of those affected are men but I do not know if that is correct either. Women definitely represent the higher percentage of those affected. I know the Minister is genuine in what she proposes to do, and the quicker it is done, the better.

I would also like to raise the issue of the fair deal scheme. I know that it is not the Minister's brief but I would like to tell her of an experience I had on Monday morning. A constituent and her husband came into my office. She is close to 80 and her husband is in a nursing home. They are on non-contributory pensions. That is fine. They have no issue paying 80% of his pension for the scheme but there is an issue because this lady jointly owned a property with her two brothers, who were not married.

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One brother died and the surviving brother gave the farm to a nephew. The farm was valued at €120,000. Due to the fact that the lady was adjudged to own half of a farm worth €120,000, she is now paying 7.5% per year on top of the percentage of the pensions for her husband's care. That is an anomaly. I was shocked when she told me her story. The property she owns is of no benefit to her whatsoever and was passed on directly from her brother to their nephew. Because she is a joint owner of the property, she has to pay 7.5% of €62,000 out of her pension, which is very unfair. I acknowledge it is not under the Minister's brief but it needs to be looked at.

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