David Norris (Independent)

I have a copy of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament pre-budget submission which raises the issue of the 35,000 carers who provide more than 50 hours a week but receive nothing. There is a means test for them which is incredibly mean – it is a mean test. People devote their lives to looking after elderly relatives but if they dumped them on the State it would cost dear. Why not be flexible and generous? The submission acknowledges the great benefit gained by the grant of €500,000 towards the cost of travel for rural elderly from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. That is an imaginative grant. Mr. Charles Haughey is often excoriated but one thing for which he is remembered North and South is the introduction of free travel for the elderly.