Marie Moloney (Labour)

This week is national carers' week. What better time to highlight the good work being done by carers all over the country by publishing and implementing the national carer strategy? Last week the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, indicated that she would publish the strategy prior to the summer.

I wish to speak about the changes that were introduced in a budget several years ago to the effect that individuals may only receive illness benefit for a period of two years. When I raised this issue just after my election last year I pointed out that it was causing confusion among the public. One year on, it is causing mayhem because recipients are being told to apply for invalidity pension or disability allowance when their illness benefits run out. The processing of these payments is taking a considerable amount of time, with processing times of up to one year for invalidity pensions. Many of these people to not want to depend on invalidity pensions if it means giving up their jobs because they do not want to be considered as invalids. They simply want to draw the benefits for which they have contributed throughout their lives. I do not see anything wrong with that. If they receive invalidity pensions, it is at a higher rate and they qualify for free travel and household benefits packages. Where is the cost saving in such a measure? The ongoing delays in the Department must be investigated and the Minister for Social Protection should come before the House for a full and open debate on her proposals for dealing with these matters.