Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the work she did in respect of people who had their PRSI records broken and who were in receipt of minimal State pensions. The Acting Chairman will know of my involvement with that issue. He was the Aire Stáit in the Department when I was first elected to the House. I raised this issue, which affects thousands of women throughout the country, with nine different Ministers for social welfare and Regina Doherty was the first who took on and addressed it. The issue mainly affected women but sometimes men were also impacted upon. These people had minimal State pensions and they now have dramatically improved State pensions as a result of the Minister's efforts so I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge that.

As the Minister knows, I have now taken up the issue of the denial of the Covid-19 PUP to people over the age of 66 who are either working full-time or part-time. I want to restate that this is totally unacceptable. Anybody who is working and has lost his or her job should, regardless of age, be entitled to this payment. These were the very people who were leading by example in the Government policy of pushing up the retirement age and they are the first people who are sacrificed when it comes to welfare support. Is this fair? If one is over the age of 66 and not in receipt of a State pension, should one be eligible for the Covid-19 PUP? Those in employment over the age of 66 have additional outlays based on their income to date, such as mortgages, loan repayments, etc., in a similar manner to other people under the age of 66 with families. This cost is not being recognised, however. Why is that the case? Families with children where the only income earner is over 66 years of age are losing out as a result of this policy. What specific provisions are being put in place in these instances to prevent children from suffering additional financial hardship?

The only movement on this issue to date has been the assurance I was given that those over the age of 66 who, as a result of Covid-19, were experiencing financial hardship could look for the supplementary welfare allowance. The community welfare officers were cognisant of this group of people. I have referred a number of people with significant financial commitments and others with young families to the scheme and all have come back to say they do not meet the criteria for the supplementary welfare allowance. Will the Minister comment on this group of workers, who have been denied the pandemic unemployment payment? Will she provide me with the number in this category who have received some financial support from their local community welfare officer?

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