Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is all very positive. We need to see that paper and the recommendations in it and see them enacted, whether we are talking about pensions or whatever else. The Minister has dealt with the issue and he has been quite clear that the allowance issue will be dealt with, having not increased since 2009. We have to look at the travel expenses and all those other benefits that these parents and children are sometimes not able to avail of. I would agree that this sometimes involves kids who would have considerable extra needs and that there will be a need for SLTs, OTs and psychologists. We have all engaged on many issues around that but sometimes we need to make sure we can put the interventions in as quickly as possible. There would be long-term savings for the State and a real societal win for everyone across the board. The one thing I would throw out is that at times I am told there is an anomaly between those who are directly paid by Tusla or on Tusla's books as opposed to those paid through agencies. If we deal with the issue of allowances, that should address some of it but it is an issue that there is a bit more flexibility for some of these agencies.

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