Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ábhar seo. As many Members have stated, we find ourselves in a different situation this year. A large number of people who would never have thought they would be obliged to do so have had to avail of social protection. Many people look on the supports required from the State in a different way. We have seen what we need, along with the weaknesses in the health service. Whereas before some people may have believed in the broken health service we have, the idea of a proper national health service has been sold to many of them.

It is only right to thank the officials in the Department of Social Protection with whom many Members work. We often go to them with incredibly complicated and tragic situations. I have encountered people in the Department who have done the devil and all to ensure that people got their entitlements or what was required. I would like to put that on the record of the House.

I thank the Minister for accepting Deputy Kerrane's amendment on musicians taking in €960 earnings over eight weeks rather than €480 over four. It is a sensible amendment and will make things easier. We have all come across a large number of people who have fallen between various stools when it comes to social protections. There are still people in need of social protection from other Departments. For example, travel agents got supports under level 5 but they do not necessarily get them under level 3. A huge amount of work still needs to be done.

If the amendment on the carer's support grant is not acceptable, will the Minister look at paying some of that upfront to people who find themselves in difficult situations? Will she look at an increased fuel allowance rate to assist those who find themselves in the difficult situation of fuel poverty?

We have to deal with the anomaly of JobPath, which is not fit for purpose. This is what happens sometimes when the Government outsources operations that it is actually better at performing itself.

Everybody has commented on pensions and the fact that certain jobs simply do not suit people working to 67. We really need to look at a solution across the board. I welcome the fact the pension age will remain at 66 but we need to improve upon this again.

See this speech in context