Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief in speaking in support of amendment No. 8 because this is clearly an anomaly that has been identified. Where this happens and there are clear anomalies, they should be rectified. Deputy Denis Naughten spoke about working and paying PRSI ,and I brought to the Minister's attention another anomaly that only recently came to my attention. It relates to illness benefit and the fact that lone parents and widows who are working and paying PRSI cannot access this benefit. If we are talking about anomalies involving people who are working and paying PRSI but who cannot access these payments, it is important to rectify such issues. I had a case of a lone parent whose child got sick with Covid-19. She applied for the Covid-19 illness benefit payment and could not access it because she was getting a payment because she is a lone parent. It is also an issue for a widow receiving a widow's pension and who is working and paying PRSI. She cannot access that illness benefit despite being very sick with Covid-19. She ended up with long Covid and could not get illness benefit.

This is an anomaly. When people are working and paying PRSI, they should be able to access illness benefit. I have written to the Minister about this and I hope she will take a look at it. I support amendment No. 8.

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