Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The budget has failed to restore the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability, which we called for in our pre-budget submission. The budget has also offered no alternative to the mobility allowance and motorised transport scheme, which was closed in 2013. People with disabilities will not see their living standards improve next year. Much of the infrastructure required for people with disabilities to lead full and independent lives has been dismantled by this Government. The budget was a missed opportunity and failed to enhance the lives of people with a disability.

Overall, any increase for those who are most vulnerable in our society is to be welcomed. However, in the context of the expanding economy, this Government has not gone far enough in this regard, in particular in the areas I have outlined.

An issue was mentioned to me yesterday. It is not within the scope of this Bill but I remember a couple of years ago changes were made to the qualifying stamp contributions for those on contributory State pensions. This affects, in particular, women who would have left the workforce in their 20s to stay at home and rear their families. These women, 20 years later, now want to return to the workforce. They are being penalised in the context of the amount of time they have to get a sufficient number of stamps to meet the full qualifying criteria for old age pensions. It is not contained in this Bill, but I remember at the time there was much discussion about the issue and how it was affecting, in particular, females who wished to return to the workforce. The Minister of State might make some comment on it.