Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests.

I will join in the calls for the Minister for Transport to attend the House. Many important reasons for this have already been mentioned, but another is the Connecting Ireland plan. Further punitive measures are being placed on motorists through the toll charges, but where are the bus services we need to ensure that people are able to get from A to B for work, college or hospital appointments? Bus services are crucial. I would look forward to the Minister appearing before us, given that the Connecting Ireland project is in train and there is a great deal of focus on it.

The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, will be taking the Social Welfare Bill 2022 through the Houses. It is crucial. One of its elements is the widening of the fuel allowance for over-70s, a matter that the Minister has been considering. This is a landmark measure because it means many more people will be able to avail of the fuel allowance. It will increase the weekly income threshold to nearly €500 per person aged over 70 years, or €1,000 per couple, and the first €20,000 in income will be disregarded. I would like to see more application forms being provided. I would also like the Minister to come to the House to tell us how the Department of Social Protection will manage the increase in applications for the fuel allowance that we are going to see in January.