Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to the House. I join others in thanking her and the Department for the manner in which they deal with their correspondence. All Members have ongoing public representations to make. I have always found the officials in the Department to be professional, timely and responsive and I ask the Minister to relay that to her senior officials. It is important to acknowledge that. We cannot say that about every Department but I can certainly say it about the Department of Social Protection. When one makes a representation, one gets a receipt in a few days and there is a follow-up a few days later. It is impressive and important, particularly in the area of social welfare and social protection where people are vulnerable. They are hanging on for word of whether they are entitled to a benefit. It is a tough business and I am conscious the Minister is not there to stand in anyone’s way or stop people from getting what they are entitled to. She would love to be in a position to be doubling up all of this. I know where she is coming from and the budgetary constraints on her and on the Government. Sometimes we forget the Minister is setting out what has been provided in the budget and that is as far as she can go. I thank her for her enthusiasm and positivity within her Department, which needs to be acknowledged.

I want to deal with sections 9, 11, 15 and 17. I welcome the increase provided in section 9 for the widowed or surviving civil partner grant from €6,000 to €8,000, which is a substantial increase of €2,000. That is an important mark. For the purposes of the widowed or surviving civil partner grant, will the Minister confirm whether a qualified child, that is, a child up to the age of 18, who is normally resident in the State and is still living with their parents will qualify for that money? There was a suggestion that a child aged between 18 and 22 who is normally resident in the State continues to be a qualified child provided they are in full-time education in a recognised school or college. The Minister might confirm that. That is my understanding but I just wanted to check it with her. She might also confirm when these measures will come into effect. Will they come into effect on 1 January 2021?

Section 11 provides for an increase of €150 in the carer’s support grant, raising the payment to €1,850, the highest level at which it has ever been. That must be acknowledged. That is a positive. The carer’s support grant is an annual payment for carers who look after people in need of full-time care and attention.We would all like to give more. It is a contribution and a recognition of what is needed. Of course, we would like much more because there is no better place for people to be than in their communities and homes receiving carer support. The increase is significant, however. I know it is not enough but it is going in the right direction; it is not remaining static. That is important.

I am concerned that carers cannot take up education or training opportunities of more than approximately 18.5 hours. I believe it was a bit less last year or the year before. This means that there are restrictions in the context of carers taking up such opportunities. I am also conscious of the conflict regarding how carers can be pursuing education or training. Many people must do both. The Minister should address that.

The Minister has responsibility for the islands. I am aware of her commitment to them. The allowance of €7.30 has increased now to €20 per week. The reality is, however, that people on the islands are experiencing difficulties and are at a slight disadvantage. I ask the Minister to keep this matter under review going forward into next year.

Finally, the repeal in respect of the increase in the State pension age under section 17 is positive. I heard a previous speaker stating that they had an issue with the Commission on Pensions. I welcome its establishment. I note, from a press statement she sent out, that the Minister was at one of its gatherings in the past few days. This is a positive development. There was a massive campaign about this issue in the run-up to the general election and now something is being done. I acknowledge the work the Minister did in order to set up the commission. She might address the timeline relating to it. I believe it is supposed to report in June next year. We need to keep the focus in this regard. The commission is a response to an outcry from many people who wanted the matter in question examined. The Minister might touch on how its work is going. I know it has just begun its deliberations. Is she confident that the commission can deliver its report by next June?