Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies. We should acknowledge that many are benefiting from the existing scheme. I had the figures to hand during Committee Stage of the Finance Bill. Between the VRT, the tax, and the fuel grant, the figure for this year was in the order of €70 million to €80 million. Therefore, many are benefiting from the scheme. It is working well for them. However, there are many people who do not meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme as it stands. Therefore, the focus of the Government is now on implementation. We have a working group report and, with the leadership of the Department of the Taoiseach in pulling together all the various Departments that have a contribution to make, we will make progress on this issue. It is a priority for the Government. We are treating it as an urgent issue because we accept the current scheme is not optimal.

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