Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister on a very progressive budget. It epitomises her view and approach to politics and society generally. The Minister has done Herculean work in the Department over the past two plus years and that is reflected in this budget.

However, there are a couple of issues I will pick up on. One of them is the exclusion of the recipients of the disablement benefit payment from the €500 disability support grant, which has been paid. Many of these people are probably among the most vulnerable in society. There was a genuine expectation that they would have been included in this payment when it was announced but, unfortunately, they have not been. I have corresponded with the Minister on it and I would hope it is something that she can have a look at. In the teeth of the escalating cost-of-living crisis and soaring fuel costs, these people are adversely suffering. They were especially disappointed to see that the disability support grant was restricted to recipients of the disability allowance, invalidity pension, blind pension and carer's grant. I ask the Minister to have a look at this and see if something can be done for these people.

When she sees issues, she reacts well and she changes. We had an issue with course participants, for example, with Rehab, who would have moved off their disability payment to get a training allowance and the Department responded quickly and addressed that. That was most welcome because a large number of people who were involved in fulfilling and worthwhile courses could have exited them because they would lose their payment. That epitomises the way the Department works and the way it can react when errors and oversights are made. Hopefully, the Minister can have a look at the disablement benefit for me as well.

It is great to see the progress on the fuel allowance. I will not rehash, but many people have made valiant points about it, most particularly where there is a family member in a house who does not receive a qualifying payment. This is a progressive budget. It is not a final budget. Hopefully, the Minister will have another couple of budgets in the lifetime of the Government and she can address those issues for us in them.

A couple of key points before I finish up relate to staff. Many people have mentioned the community welfare offices. In Longford, we probably have the best community welfare office in Ireland. We have three outstanding staff members there: Ms Patricia Doyle, Ms Bernie Quaine and Ms Jacinta Keogh. Not only in the cost-of-living crisis but right throughout Covid, these people have been on the front line and at the epicentre of it. I was disappointed that a case was not made for the Minister's community welfare officers to receive the Covid payment. They were probably more on the front line than many. Everybody who gets the payment is perfectly entitled to it but these people worked tirelessly throughout that period.

It has to be said that the system is creaking. It is under an awful lot of pressure. I can hear the strain in these people's voices when I contact them. They are incredibly accessible. If one telephones them, one will always get them. Indeed, I must say that for the entire Department of Social Protection team. That is indicative of the Minister's leadership as well that she has such a responsive and effective team.

My final point relates specifically to the Minister's staff. With regard to the 4% cumulative back pay most civil servants received recently, there is an issue within the Department where some staff have moved from a weekly to a fortnightly salary. Some of those have not been picked up. They have only got it for the period when they were on a weekly salary but when they changed to a different pay type, that was not picked up. They have been told the issue will be resolved in February but I would like that addressed before Christmas. I imagine it is a small cohort of people. As an employer, and particularly given the employees that we have there who are very much on the front line and doing Herculean work for society generally, the Minister can look after and address that for us.

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