Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Carers Association of Ireland plays a very important role in society. It provides services for family members in their homes and ensures their quality of life is improved on a daily basis. Today it made its prebudget submission in the audiovisual room. I am cognisant of the fact that as a result of the promissory note deal it is aware there is an opportunity for it to push forward many of its needs in next year's budget.

It raised a number of issues today, including the protection of the rates of carer's allowance paid and the household benefits scheme. It is calling for an improvement in the appeals process to reduce the waiting period for applicants to 12 weeks. It is also calling for increased transparency in eligibility criteria, specifically financial assessments. It has asked for the abolition of the double charge for medical card holders in receipt of prescriptions whereby the same drug may need to be dispensed in different weight units and patients are being charged twice.

The Carers Association needs and deserves the support of the people in this House and of Government in general. I support it wholeheartedly. Its prebudget submission is reasonable. It is cognisant of the current economic situation. I ask the Leader to put his support behind the submission and the House to do likewise.