John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister.

With regard to the earnings disregard for recipients of the working family payment towards housing costs, child maintenance should be regarded as an income for the child and not as household income. I questioned the Minister on this yesterday. She does not agree with me. In not agreeing with me, she does not agree with the organisations that represent real people. I do not understand why the Minister insists that child maintenance should be calculated as means towards an array of social welfare payments. This is totally unfair and it should stop.

I welcome the full exemption of age-related jobseeker payments for young jobseekers in State care. This was an important move by the Minister. It has been requested for some time and it is a welcome move.

I ask the Minister to consider the age-related jobseeker payments and the impact of the reduced payments on those between 18 and 24, in particular. These reduced payments are leading to homelessness. We can see that from the homelessness figures. It has been stated by numerous organisations representing homeless people that this discrimination in the system is having an impact in terms of homelessness. It is ensuring young people are trapped in homelessness. Therefore, I urge the Minister to consider this.

The Minister ignores the simple fact I have outlined. Every year the gap between jobseekers is widened based on age. This makes it increasingly difficult to close. It is deeply regrettable that the Minister continues with this failed policy of discrimination, introduced by Fianna Fáil, and it ignores the impact it is having on young people. It was interesting to listen to Deputy O'Dea. Yesterday he tried to defend his party's introduction of the arrangement and blamed the current Government for presiding over it. It was unacceptable when introduced and it is unacceptable now. The discrimination needs to end.

With regard to JobPath, Turas Nua was mentioned. There is another private company involved, Seetec. I have raised concerns about the 15,000 people who have been referred to JobPath for a second time. This has been referred to as a hindrance. It is a waste of money. I have stated the two companies are rubbing their hands with glee. They are making millions upon millions of euro from the State through the privatisation of the system. It needs to end. My party and I are not the only ones with a difficulty with this. Members throughout the House, from all political parties, have raised serious concerns about it. I speak to real people on a daily basis, as I am sure does the Minister.

I query whether the Minister has not had issues brought to her directly in her constituency from people who have been referred to JobPath, whether it is Turas Nua or Seetec. There are major issues with it and I am not dreaming them up. They have been presented to every Member. Sticking one's head in the sand and ignoring them is wrong. It is particularly wrong on the part of the Minister, who has direct responsibility and is presiding over this system, to stick her head in the sand and continue to have people referred to this privatised industry that is making millions of euro.

Finally, the 2017 Bill is in limbo. Crucial provisions in it must be implemented. It appears we will not see the 2017 Bill this year, which is unacceptable. Perhaps the Minister will enlighten us on whether that Bill will be taken off the shelf, dusted down and brought forward. The Bill before us contains nothing that will have it held up or delayed. I assume that is intentional. Certainly my party will not stand in the way of letting this Bill progress. However, we cannot have a trend where difficult provisions are left behind and the nice provisions giving people entitlements and increases are welcomed and progressed. The Minister has to deal with the difficult issues such as the DB schemes. People are crying out for this. Schemes are closing down and people are getting knocked out. The Minister must confront and deal with that, and I urge her to do so as a matter of priority.

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