Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the review, especially as regards the means-testing of carer's payments, which is an issue we have raised in this House on numerous occasions. It needs to be looked into to ensure it is fair for carers and those they are caring for.

The second issue I raise is the thresholds for the fuel allowance. There are many ancillary benefits available to people who qualify for the fuel allowance, so many people attend our clinics whose incomes are out by a small amount. I ask the Minister to allow for some flexibility in providing for a lower rate of fuel allowance. It would be great to have the fuel allowance and its ancillary benefits reviewed.I do not know how it could be done. Perhaps if people were still under the threshold, they could still qualify for some of the benefits, such as wrapping the house. It is a big thing for people. We are trying to give funds for retrofitting and it is hard to get them to the right people. These are the right people.