Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle very much. My question is on the essential repair grant, the disabled persons grant and the mobility aids grant. They have not been looked at in so many years. Building costs have gone up so enormously that even if people get the maximum grant amount payable to them, for which we are very grateful and I am also appreciative of the work Kerry County Council does in administering this much-needed funding, it is not enough. To put it simply, this is not enough. There is so much of a gap between what the grant amount is and the cost of these jobs that the recipients, be they older people or disabled people, cannot get the work carried out in their homes. This is the issue I wish to highlight to the Minister. I am sorry for taking time.

I would like to be granted the indulgence to pay tribute to the late Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh because of the simple fact that he was a proud Kerryman. He represented Ireland so well that his memory, his voice and his legacy will go on forever. It was always a pleasure to meet him. On 17 March every year, at 6 a.m. in Dingle town, he would always be at the first St. Patrick's Day parade of the day. Even when he was getting older, he was always there to march down through the town behind the pipe band. He was a fine stand of a strong, well-spoken man that we all appreciated so much. We will remember him forever and fondly. We thank him for the great service that he gave to sport, to Kerry and to Ireland. He was a great man.

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