Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

More information would be very helpful because it is a very positive scheme. I had a woman in my office who, for the first time, is applying for a payment in her own right, having minded someone for over 20 years. She did not get any payment. The breakdown would be very important because under the criteria, someone who worked more than 16 or 18 hours per week is not entitled to the payment. Is there any flexibility around that where someone had another job for a number of hours each week, say, in a community employment scheme?

I asked the Minister if there was a review or appeal mechanism in place. One of the recommendations of the Pensions Commission was the establishment of a family carers register. Has progress been made on that?

I cannot praise this scheme enough but I need more details to be able to explain it to constituents who contact me. What period of time is envisaged? How many people will come forward? There must have been an analysis of this undertaken by the Department, particularly with regard to a review or appeal mechanism and flexibility.

Why was the 20-year period chosen? Could there be a 15-year period? Is there any flexibility around that or will there be a review of it?

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