Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware of the specific case to which I referred, even though I have anonymised the details. I welcome the fact the Minister will carry out a review. I take her at her word in that regard.

I acknowledge the fact the Government has increased the income disregard from €665 to €750 for a couple. The scenario I am talking about involves a couple where there were two parents, one of whom is working while the second forgoes a career to care for a son or daughter and also forgoes a lot of opportunities, and does so absolutely willingly. The person then finds that because they are locked out of the system and because of an increase in income due to overtime, all other benefits accruing to the family are lost. It is those small exceptions in schemes that we are speaking to here. A small number of couples throughout the country are affected by this. It is to be hoped they will be included in any review that the Minister undertakes.

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