Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

Yes, but the other conditions are equally important. I took the view this year that it would be better to put the money into respite care, making it the largest payment in the system, and putting the money into getting the allowances and the disregards up. This package cost €30 million this year. We could have done none of this and used the €140 million to remove the means test. While it would cover some of these people, it would not do much for the rate of payment. More people would be included but they would receive less money.

I am always nervous about removing means tests. The distribution of taxpayers' money must be done on the basis of people's needs.