Seanad debates

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage

 

4:05 pm

Photo of Martin ConwayMartin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The biggest problem with the bereavement grant that existed until now was that it was a universal payment. People who had very generous pensions and had accumulated significant resources qualified for the funeral grant. It is important to point out that even today if somebody is in financial difficulty they can go to their community welfare officer and get a payment similar to the funeral grant. I oppose universal payments, whatever they are, whether child benefit, medical cards for the under-fives, or bereavement grants because I do not believe they serve the people who need them most. I have already said that we need an overall debate in society on universal payments because they have contributed to where we are today.

We all agree with what Senators Cullinane and Mooney have said in that regard. It is desperate for families to be faced with a bill for €4,000 or €5,000 when a loved one has passed away. I urge the Minister to ensure that community welfare officers are particularly sympathetic to people who find themselves in that situation. Senator Cullinane's points on this issue are well made but there is a better way to do it than the way in which it was done before now. I encourage the Minister to send a circular to community welfare officers urging them to treat people in that situation with sympathy and compassion.

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