Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise two issues. I have had many calls from people I know.My colleague, Senator Carrigy, will be happy that post offices will be able to provide facilities that banks cannot. Many banks have closed down or will close down in rural and urban areas, a lot of them are going cashless and ATMs are being closed down in many areas. It is a huge issue in my area. A colleague of mine in Callan, County Kilkenny, phoned me to tell me that there will no bank in the town as of the end of this week. The loss of such facilities creates fear among people. Older people are very upset because they cannot cope with banking online.

Recently, I heard from people in Family Carers Ireland due to the approaching budget. I wish to state that carers provide a very adequate facility and help to keep many people in their homes. Carers also help to extend people's lives with the care they give them. We must consider introducing the following key aspects in the budget: increase the weekly carer's payment by €8; increase the carer's support grant to €2,000; provide a carer's pension to long-term family carers as many carers give up their jobs but when they reach retirement age they will not be entitled to anything due to making a reduced number of contributions; and invest €5 million in the carer's guarantee scheme to provide supports that protect the mental health and well-being of carers and the people they care for.