Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome yesterday's news on what the Cabinet has approved for the rent-a-room scheme. It is an issue I have raised here many times, including in two Commencement debates. It is a win-win situation for older people but also for those who need student accommodation. People can rent a room for up to €14,000 and it does not affect their medical card. It is welcome news because many people live alone and to have someone living with them means they have company, as well as the fact it will not affect their medical card.People were afraid to rent out a room because until now, it would have affected their cards. This is most welcome news and I thank the Government for approving it yesterday.

I know I am only supposed to raise one item but I would also like to raise the fact that businesses, especially small businesses, are in turmoil at the moment. I have received a lot of contact from small hospitality businesses concerning the minimum wage and sick pay. All those measures came in this month, which is the lean time of the year for businesses. January and February are the leanest months and those businesses are now facing all these extra charges. There is also the initiative to bring back one's plastic bottles. While I fully support the initiative, the training was held during the ten days running up to Christmas, when businesses are at their busiest. I believe the training needs to be held again because so many businesses are not aware of the full facts in that regard. Whoever organised it for the ten days leading up to Christmas is not aware of what businesses face.