Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the debate on this Bill, which provides for a very important and significant change to social welfare payments. It is an overdue change and one that is most welcome. I commend Mr. John O'Meara on the ruling on his case at the Supreme Court following the death of his long-term partner to whom he was not married.

Ireland has changed dramatically in recent decades and mostly for the good. A huge number of families have been living in the union of love for many years but without taking that additional step of marriage. Mr. O'Meara put in his application, it was denied and he felt that they were treated differently as a family. His late partner and he had both worked and paid their contributions but were discriminated against. The legislation would extend eligibility for the pension to persons who are engaged in an “intimate and committed relationship” lasting two years where there are children involved, or five years for childless couples. While the change takes effect I hope the time restraints that have been placed on it would be relaxed so that the numbers eligible can be widened. Some of my colleagues, including Deputy O'Reilly, mentioned specific cases and I could mention some as well. Of course this is an important change but it required a brave citizen to take the matter to the Supreme Court. He should not have had to do that and the family should not have been put through that.

While this is an important and significant change, perhaps it is time to look at a wider issue with many of our social protection payments. With many social protection payments it is has always been a challenge to receive the payment one is entitled to. For many payments there is a requirement to demonstrate your financial resources, to submit these and other details, and then to settle into what is often quite a significant waiting period. People who apply for a payment are often in desperate need of it. They may have no employment. Maybe they are caring for a loved one and have had to cut back their hours of work. Possibly they are the head of a one-parent family and, as such, the payment is a lifeline to ensure they can deliver their child's needs. The average time a citizen must wait is often far too long for many such needs or payments.

I thank the divisional officers of the Department of Social Protection who do an excellent job in answering the many queries that me and my colleagues put in. My team puts in questions, clarifications and parliamentary questions every single day. I will give a flavour of how long people in need of a payment must wait. In 2024 the average wait time for the back-to-school family dividend was 19.8 weeks; for carer's allowance, it was 16.9 weeks; for carer's benefit, it was 13.6 weeks; for child benefit, it was 25.4 weeks; for disability allowance, it was 16 weeks; for domiciliary care, it was 22.7 weeks; for illness benefit, it was 25.9 weeks; for invalidity pension, it was 14.8 weeks; for jobseeker's allowance, it was 32.8 weeks; for jobseeker's benefit, it was 21 weeks; for maternity benefit, it was 14.5 weeks; and for the one-parent family payment, it was 34.7 weeks, which was especially and incredibly unfair. Of course sometimes an incorrect decision can be made regarding an application. When a person fails in a case, he or she has leave to appeal, but he or she must consider the additional 23.5 weeks to receive an outcome, such as for carers. I have been dealing with a case in Limerick of an older woman who has been the carer of her grandson since he was three years of age. He is now 19. I have raised this case already. This lady had her payment cut as it was determined that the person being cared for did not require full-time care and attention anymore. The young man has an autism diagnosis, dyspraxia, learning difficulties and various mental health challenges. He is not capable of completing daily tasks such as keeping up his personal hygiene without support. Without his grandmother's ongoing commitment, the burden of care will fall on the State. She must now wait and hope the carer's payment is fully restored.

There are challenges with social protection and we need to have them decided in a shorter timeframe. I urge the Minister to consider how such long waiting times can be shortened and how those dependent on such payments can know the outcome of their applications more promptly.

I thank Mr. O'Meara and his family, and all those who have sought to have these restrictions removed. The Bill we discuss today is much welcome and is the right thing to do. It is a Bill that I wholeheartedly support.

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