Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am very much aware there is one form for the three different grants. That has helped about which there is no doubt. However, the problem at the moment is that I have to direct the majority of applicants with whom I am dealing to the community welfare service, which is another arm of Government, in order that they can complete their grants. The €8,000 limit is simply not good enough. To take the €30,000 limit as an example, the cheapest building costs the person could get amounted to €70,000. Yet, the grant only offers €30,000. The person is still in hospital and cannot leave.

It is like what the Minister of State said in that we want people to return home and to live in the comfort and care of their loved ones. That is what this is all about. The reason I mention those grants is to see if those limits will be increased to reflect rising building costs. I hope that is being looked at the moment. It cannot happen quickly enough for those who need the grants. Many of these grants are stalled at the moment because people simply cannot continue with them, because they do not have the money. That is the problem here. I hope the Minister of State will address this as a matter of urgency.