Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for enabling the House to commemorate the life and work of the late Vicky Phelan. It is much appreciated.

The budget provided for a once-off €500 payment for certain categories of social welfare recipients. All those social welfare recipients can do training courses, short courses lasting three or four months, under the aegis of SOLAS to enable their reintegration into the workforce while at the same time continuing to receive their social welfare. Based on a reply dated 25 October it has now transpired that if the €500 payment date occurs while they are on the course, they are not entitled to that €500. This is even though they are not materially better off than they were beforehand because all they are receiving is their basic social welfare payment. Would that Taoiseach agree with me that this is either an oversight or a glaring anomaly that needs to be rectified?

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