Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh. I have a number of questions for the Minister but I will begin by responding to the claims by both the Labour Party and Sinn Féin regarding the waiving of the tax liability for people on the PUP and those whose employers received the employment wage subsidy scheme. Both parties are showing blatant hypocrisy because they are not equally calling for the tax liability of workers who worked throughout the pandemic and earned the same amount of money in the same period of time to be amended. They are suggesting that people who worked in supermarkets for that entire period should somehow pay more tax than people who earned the same amount of money. They are saying that healthcare workers who worked throughout the pandemic should pay more tax than people who earned the same.

It is complete hypocrisy and populism from two parties that claim to be on the left and wish to raise taxes and have public services. They are not being consistent with their policies and with the people who have worked through this pandemic. If a person earns the same amount as another, the person should pay the same tax. I do not agree with the hypocrisy from the two previous speakers.

I welcome the call that the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister of State had this week with representatives of CE schemes. I got significant positive feedback from them and I believe they felt heard, especially those on the front line. I am taking my lean from the Finglas Meals on Wheels service in particular. Those involved believe that for the first time the Minister was hearing their concerns directly. This applies especially to the issue of referrals. We have 13 vacancies in the Finglas service. The service has provided meals every day throughout the pandemic when it could, yet it has not received a referral from the Department in more than three years. Clearly, there is a need for vacancies but they are not being sent.

I have made a broader point to the Minister several times. It is about the need to recognise these types of CE schemes as being more than simply a training opportunity. They are providing a front-line service supporting the health of people and supporting people at home. The Department does not solely fund the training scheme. Will the Minister outline the outcomes of that call and what actions she intends to take?

My next question relates to liaising between the Minister for Health and his Department. What additional measures does the Minister believe she can bring to the CE schemes that provide far more than simply a training opportunity?

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