Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment. I would like to set out the context for these amendments. The Minister of State mentioned certain labour activation measures on Second Stage. We have discussed them here. We can argue the toss on this issue. We will know the position in due course.

Amendment No. 5 specifically looks for a report to be produced within four months of the passing of this Act which would review "all expenditure reductions or the ceasing of payments in relation to the household benefits package, including the gas allowance, electricity allowance, telephone allowance since 2011, and setting out the options for restoring those payments to their previous levels". This is very important.

I do not want people to forget what is involved here. The telephone allowance, for example, was worth nearly €29 a month, in effect. It was reduced to €9 during the term of this Government before being abolished entirely. It is a matter of grave concern. I am sure it is raised with the Minister of State, particularly by elderly people, when he is out and about in his own constituency. The abolition of this allowance raised various issues with regard to alarms, etc. That is just one example.

At the very least, we should review the impact on stakeholders of the various cuts, including the cuts in the electricity, gas and household package. I suggest that the abolition of the telephone allowance, in particular, is one of the biggest mistakes made in this area. Amendment No. 6 calls for a report to be prepared within four months of the passing of this Act "reviewing all expenditure reductions or ceasing of payments in relation to the treatment benefits package since 2011, and setting out options for restoring those payments to their previous levels". I think these amendments should be accepted by this Government or any future Government on the basis of a specific commitment to look at how these benefits can be restored to previous levels.

The abolition of bereavement grant payments was one of the most bizarre cuts imposed by this Government. When it was going after the elderly, it decided to go after them after they have died as well. Amendment No. 7 proposes to review this atrocious cut by calling on the Government to look at "options for restoring those payments to their previous levels". I am talking about options. When the Tánaiste came in here to debate the abolition of the bereavement grant, she gave all types of reasons for it. She suggested that undertakers were increasing fees, for example. It was all the usual nonsense we hear from time to time. There has been nothing to back that up.

If the Government commits to a proper review of the particular cuts that are mentioned in amendments Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, at least we will know whether I was talking rubbish, or the Tánaiste was talking rubbish, at the time of their abolition. I might be proven wrong after four months, or the Government might have to face the option of accepting it was wrong to cut the telephone allowance. I know from meeting elderly people and others in north County Dublin that its abolition has had an impact on our senior citizens, in particular. The bereavement grant was seen as very important for people with no income who were not able to make the necessary provisions. Many elderly people are concerned about how they and their families will be able to afford to bury them. It was right that the State made some contribution towards these costs in the past, and it is wrong that this Government has abolished the grant. That is what these amendments seek to address. That is my view. I am seconding all three amendments.