Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It falls on the basis that the limit for two people living under the same roof who are not defined as a couple is €500 each, while that for a couple is lower. I know of a couple over 70 whose income is €909. They are €9 over the limit. They live in an extreme corner of County Mayo. The lady must travel on a weekly basis to Galway University Hospital for cancer treatment. The couple made the point to me that this is not about the cost of living but about the cost of medical treatment. The couple cannot share medical treatment or drugs just because they are husband and wife. The costs are unique to the health issue of the individual.

As Senator Quinn said, this is an unfair singling out of older people. It worries them. Their income is finite and they feel rather powerless and disabled - if I may use that word - by this measure. I would like the Minister of State to address the anomaly I have pointed out. I refer in particular to where two people who are not a couple are living under one roof. They can avail of the €1,000 limit, or €500 each, whereas a married couple must avail of the €900 limit. What can the Minister of State propose by way of resolution?