Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy Ward's questions, in the context of the budget the fuel allowance supports and the variety of supports that are there to help low-income families with heating will be looked at, given the rising costs and so on.

Deputy Crowe raised the issue of the transfer of the heritage sites. It would be unthinkable if an organisation was not going to operate them. No one in government said that just because we are transferring from one entity to another, they should close in the interim period. That is not a runner. Neither did anyone say that if the EWSS is available, it should not be used. I will ask both Ministers involved to engage and make sure that does not happen. It should not happen.

Deputy Tully raised the issue of home carers and she made a legitimate point about the difficulties with getting a workforce in. There has been a dramatic reduction in hours in recent months and that has meant there is a need to get more home care personnel. In the short term we will have to look at the work permit issue, the facilitation of more people to become involved and the training of others. Legislation is on target to put home care on a statutory basis.

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