Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are almost destabilising a Government that has taken over an incredible mess left behind by the previous Government. We know at a human level that the carer's grant cut is not palatable given the important work carers do and how they save the State money, but I am aware from spending the weekend getting a good deal of feedback that it needs review and drilling down. Three postmasters - one in the west, one in the mid-west and one in the south - have told me that in their view, and these are anecdotal reports which I cannot confirm, it is not fairly handed out in that some people deserve more while others may not deserve as much. What is happening is that the family doctor is signing off but the medical assessor, on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, is doing a desk assessment. It is important that the Minister's officials check that.

Fraud has been alluded to in reports and the back to school allowance should be paid in vouchers, not in cash, because the vouchers would ensure it would be spent on clothes and books. The issue of cohabitation and rent allowance should be examined also. I strongly encourage the Minister to examine those areas. We should support her at committee level in doing that on a year long basis and not just in the few weeks leading up to the budget.