Fair Deal Scheme could help in homeless crisis
THIS Government has a huge opportunity to deal with the housing and homelessness crisis by utilising the existing stock, Deputy John Brassil told the Dáil. One element of that stock is houses vacated by people who are in nursing homes under the Fair Deal scheme, he said
“In figures I obtained from the Health Service Executive, HSE, currently there are 14,000 such properties in the country,” he said. “Of those 14,000, as few as 600 are being re-let. I call on the Government to come up with an incentive to give the owners or the families of the people who own the houses an incentive to get those properties in use quickly. If it set even a minimum target of 10 per cent, 1,300 houses would be in circulation within a six- to 12-month period. Surely that is an incentive for the Government to try to deal with the 10,000 people who are homeless.”
In reply, Minister of State Catherine Byrne said under the Fair Deal scheme rental income is considered income for the purpose of the financial assessment and is assessed at 80 per cent less any allowable deductions. “Allowable deductions include income tax and, therefore, any income tax arising from rental income should be deducted; other deductions include some health expenses, levies required by law to be paid, and interest on some loans in respect of a person’s principal private residence,” she said.
The Department of Health has received legal advice that changes to the treatment of rental income in the scheme would require changes to primary legislation, she said. “Possible changes to the scheme are being explored. However, significant further analysis and development of the options, including legal analysis and costings, is required before a decision can be made to bring forward any proposed changes to the Fair Deal scheme. There is also a need to explore and consider operational consequences and any unintended consequences that might result from any proposed changes.”
Plea made for suckler farmers
Suckler farmers are experiencing severe difficulties in County Kerry and all along the west of Ireland, Independent Deputy Danny Healy-Rae told the Dáil. “These farmers provide the source of our beef, by and large, for most of the rest of the country,” he said. “Suckler prices are down by a third in Cahirsiveen, Castleisland and Kenmare marts.”
Deputy Healy-Rae begged the Taoiseach that the €200 that was promised to suckler farmers be made available this year. “The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine gave back €76 million to the Exchequer last year and €106 million the year before,” he said. “Suckler farmers need this money now as otherwise they face extinction. I ask the Taoiseach to take action in the Budget this year.”
In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said matters in relation to Budget 2019 are obviously under discussion now and he was not in a position to make any announcements until the Budget happens.
“I know the Minister, Deputy Creed, is working with the stakeholders’ forum on all of those issues,” the Taoiseach added.
Clarity sought on payment of Christmas bonus to social welfare recipients
RECENT media reports that the Christmas bonus will not be paid to pensioners and social welfare recipients this year were raised in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil Deputy John Brassil.
“I ask the Taoiseach to put this rumour, which may be unfounded and untrue, to bed immediately,” he said. “It would be of great concern to pensioners and social welfare recipients if they were unable to rely on this extra money around Christmas time, when it is most needed. The timely ending of this rumour, which I hope is inaccurate, would be welcome. If it is Government policy not to pay this bonus, I ask the Taoiseach to reverse that policy immediately.”
In reply, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Christmas bonus is really important, particularly for people who are on low and fixed incomes. It gives pensioners an opportunity to buy presents for their grandchildren. “It gives people on very low incomes an opportunity to meet the inevitable bills that come with Christmas,” he said. “I can assure the Deputies that the Christmas bonus will be paid this year.”
Call to make spinal drug available to more child patients
THE case of a mother who brought her small child, Rose, to the clinic of Deputy Michael Healy-Rae was outlined to the Dáil. Rose was able to point to her hair, eyes, nose and mouth, he said. A short time ago she could not do that.
“Rose suffers from a spinal muscular problem and, thankfully, she is on the drug Spinraza, which is working very well for her,” he said. “That is the reason she has some power to move her arms. Sadly, however, there are 25 other children in this country who cannot move their limbs and whose little muscles and limbs are getting increasingly weak. As a medical professional the Taoiseach would be far more knowledgeable about this than me. It is a disgrace that the drug is not being made available to the little children who could benefit so greatly from it. Anything the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the Government can do to help those 25 children to be like Rose and to be able to move their hands, point and use their muscles would be important beyond belief.”