The Government’s failure to introduce an annual support of €75 for people with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence, as promised two years ago, has been slammed by independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice.
Originally announced in mid 2017, by the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Denis Naughten, this support was intended to help people meet the average annual cost of disposal of incontinence products.
Speaking on the matter, Fitzmaurice noted: “This was promised almost two years ago, and here we are – still waiting. This Government, along with successive ministers in the department, have failed to deliver.
“Once again, it is the most vulnerable in society who are suffering for the incompetence of this Fine Gael Government. This was announced by deputy Naughten and then the baton was passed to Minister Richard Bruton.
“However, the minister and his department continue to blame concerns around data for the unacceptable delay in getting this support up and running.
“While I understand that people’s medical information is sensitive, I find it extremely hard to believe that we cannot formulate a plan to implement this €75 support for those who really need it.
“This matter has been allowed to rumble on for almost two years now and people are fed up of hearing the same tired excuses from one minister after another.
“The only ones suffering as a result of the delay are those who are lifelong or long-term medically incontinent. These people have significantly higher waste charges to pay and the €75 would be of huge benefit to them,” he concluded.
Michael Fitzmaurice TD – 0861914565