Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

People on low incomes in the private and public sectors have experienced further cuts in income in recent months and many now qualify for family income supplement. However, it takes up to ten weeks for them to receive their entitlements. The Leader will agree that it is totally unacceptable that people who are striving to provide for their families should have to wait to up ten weeks to receive their entitlements. Last week I mentioned that many members of the Defence Forces qualified for family income supplement. They do not qualify for overtime payments like many others in the public service. Surely we should strive to ensure they can secure their entitlements in a timely fashion. I ask the Leader to make representations to the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, on that matter to ensure people get their proper entitlements in a timely fashion.