Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity, however brief, to speak on this legislation. I compliment the Minister on the work she is doing and the co-operation in all the work she is doing in the Department. I and many others greatly appreciate it.

I wish to raise several issues. One is the disregard of the half-rate carer's allowance. This is an important aspect. It must be acknowledged that this was an issue in respect of the fuel allowance. Turning to the issue of the CE schemes, and the brief mention of the supervisors in this context, the eligibility criteria for these schemes make it difficult for communities to get people to participate in them. Keeping people aged over 55 on these schemes should be explored in this context. I refer in particular to vulnerable people who have been on these schemes previously. Perhaps there might be a little flexibility in this regard. People use as much flexibility as is possible within the schemes, but there may be scope here for people who are on a scheme and would like to stay on it. They may not have an alternative of going into full-time employment, and these may well be vulnerable people. There is something that can be examined in this context.

I spoke about people with disabilities. The disability allowance is welcome. It is, however, a means-tested payment. Schemes are coming, and I refer especially to the development of social farming schemes, and participants joining those. A new scheme should be brought in for people with disabilities. They are going on different schemes now, such as work placements, social farming or their equivalent in different communities. A flexible scheme, with income disregard, in which people can participate, should be brought in.

Time out of number at the Joint Committee on Disability Matters on a Thursday morning advocates and, indeed, people with disabilities talk about how if they go into work they would lose the medical card or the disability allowance. There is scope. I know that the departmental officials and the Minister would examine how that could be looked at.

On the carer's allowance and the carer's benefit, the carer's benefit was an innovative scheme. At this point, it is payable for two years. Is it possible to have the carer's benefit extended? I constantly say that we should look at it from the State's point of view because the services are being provided by carers and that it should be care-assessed rather than means-assessed. When people are providing full-time care, that will cost big money. At this point in time, it is something that could be looked at because it would benefit people who give up full-time employment to look after a parent, a sibling or a child on a full-time basis and they have no income after two years. There is something that could be examined, or maybe extend the carer's benefit.

I compliment the Minister and the Government on all the work they are doing and the extra money that is desperately badly needed to continue the good work.

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