Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be associated with the comments on St. Patrick's Institution. It was a very wise move by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to state earlier this year that the institution was no longer a suitable place for 16 year olds and 17 year olds.

I refer in particular to the report in The Irish Times about a Garda sergeant's wife who spoke anonymously and very bravely about the burden on her family arising from a mortgage repayment that has become unsustainable. It is now clear, as I have known for some time, that we need to have these stories told on the record. Middle-income families are now a new poor but they are not on social welfare. We need to find a way to assist these families because there is no doubt that it is on them that the charges such as the property tax, water charges, etc, will fall, as they are owners of homes.

On Thursday we will have a debate with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton and we must work out a way to assist these families.