Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. As she mentioned, it is wonderful to hear how the officials and staff from the Department with responsibility for employment affairs and social protection, who work in each and every county, stepped up in such heroic fashion to support people who literally found themselves, from one week to the next, with no income when we entered into lockdown. The lockdown impacted mostly on young people and those in sectors such as retail, hospitality and tourism. The Minister mentioned that more than €13 billion is going to 800,000 people. In terms of the processes, project management and commitment needed in this regard, the efforts of the Department of Social Protection have been Herculean. We owe the Department a huge debt of gratitude. When one thinks about it,182,000 people were on the live register in February. That is one of the lowest numbers ever. Huge numbers were in almost full employment in February and then the Department, which was previously under the stewardship of the Leader, Deputy Doherty, somehow turned the position around in the context of dealing with the lowest number of recipients ever to dealing with three times that number. At present, the Department is providing payments to 535,000 people on the live register and the PUP. I am honestly in awe of how that was done in such a fast turnaround time to provide support to people.

The role of public representatives is, in particular, to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. The role of Government is to provide leadership and a lifeline to those in need in a crisis. With the support and the budget secured by the Minister, the Department has given a lifeline to people and families in need. The leadership and immediate response of the previous Government resulted in impressive achievements in the area of social welfare. Fine Gael wants a just Ireland in which those who are most vulnerable will be protected. We need to support people in need in this crisis. The reason we can do so is that we are in a position to borrow at low rates. The latter has meant that we can provide the PUP and fund the TWSS.

I was proud to hear the Minister state that more than €300 million has been allocated in targeted measures to vulnerable groups.Of the measures mentioned by the Minister, one of the most crucial is payment of sick leave on the fourth day. This is an immediate response to Covid-19. We, as a Government, are asking people to stay home from work if they show any symptoms. They will now, however, have support because sick pay is urgent. The Minister mentioned that there is a consultation process with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We need all stakeholders to take part in that because sick pay should be a statutory right. It is provided for in other countries in Europe. That reduction in waiting time from six to three days, however, means a person will get some form of income if he or she cannot turn up to work. In asking that person to stay home, stay safe and help protect others, we are now doing something to help and support them and their families.

Being able to earn up to €960 over eight weeks on the PUP scheme means our artists, creatives, craftspeople, musicians, tradespeople and self-employed have an option to retain their PUP payment and also work.

The carer's support grant is close to my heart. During the election campaign, I saw a presentation from the Family Carers Ireland group and the amount it does in saving the Exchequer money by the service it provides in homes really hit home. This €150 increase in the carer's support grant is welcome and raises the payment to €1,850. The Minister also mentioned that more than 130,000 carers can benefit from this increase next year. Increasing our support towards carers, however, is something I will examine and work on in the years ahead.

I very much welcome the living alone allowance. I was heartened to see funding last week under the Covid-19 stability funds from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, as well as the age and opportunity funds that went out to active age retirement groups. There is huge loneliness and isolation for older people living at home. We are asking them to stay away and stay at home, and yet, in this time, it is tough. I, therefore, very much welcome the increase of €5 for people living alone.

I thank the Minister, her teams, the Department and the officials. It is a party I am proud to be a part of.