Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply but, unfortunately, it is a bit of déjà vubecause the last time we spoke, this report was with Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for discussion on changes to be brought forward. At the same time, as the Minister of State said, people are not being allowed to live independently in their homes, which this grant would give them the opportunity to do. Will he go back to the Department and confirm a timeframe for those changes? Maybe he can tell me today.

The income threshold limits need to change to keep pace with building inflation. I welcome the Government's allocation of €74 million. This is a life-changing grant. Everybody in this House, across all parties and none, will support that. However, we need to see the changes quickly. We need to see them for that lady in Newbridge and the many others I deal with every day. I ask the Minister of State to put a timeframe on that because the responses I got previously stated he was in discussions with Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. However, people want to see new income thresholds and the chance to live independently in their own homes.