Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State very much. I fully welcome all of the additional supports that were put in place following the budget. I am looking forward to 2026. As part of the programme for Government, there was a review put in to review the fuel allowance, the household benefits package and the living alone allowance, and they were all welcome. However, I would not be doing my job if I did not try to fight for every penny to support this demographic and for every opportunity to give them that extra bit of financial support and financial independence. These people get up in the morning and make decisions whether they will use one service or another or whether they will eat twice a day, because they are living on the margins. The isolation and mental health impact costs the State significantly more than what we are talking about in investment here.

I know it is not possible to produce this sort of money overnight. We are looking at the next budget cycle and I will speak to the Minister about this, but I would not be doing my job if I did not stand up for this particular demographic and for the 9,117 ALONE volunteers who, in 2024, delivered 264,000 voluntary hours to this particular sector, something that ALONE has estimated is valued at €7.81 million in voluntary hours support. It is about providing a lifeline, keeping in touch and keeping connected. By doing so, it is enabling these people to have independent living, which we are all here to support and support them in doing.