James Bannon (Fine Gael)

Since 1997, there has been a series of stealth taxes imposed by this Government.

Grants, such as the disabled person's grant and the essential repairs grant, are now an insult to the people who rely on such provisions. In my constituency, one disabled man who qualified for a necessary extension to his home received builders' quotes of €32,000, €34,000 and €35,000. The grant he received was less than €8,000, which is less than a quarter of what it will cost to construct this necessary en suite bedroom.