I am calling on Minister Burton to urgently take further steps to tackle the gross backlog of Back to Education Clothing and Footwear Allowance applications.

It is understood that over 66,000 applications have been received by the Department of Social Protection since the beginning of July, completely overwhelming the resources and systems in place. The backlog in processing these applications could mean that many families will not receive their payments until long after the school year has started. The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, has put additional staff in place but this step is grossly insufficient. 

To put this into perspective the Department has stated that 45,000 applications still have to be processed. This means thousands of parents will not have the monies that they are entitled to, to purchase uniforms and shoes for their children who are returning to school. Earlier this week the Department sent a memo to the Citizens Information Service which confirmed that at the beginning of this week the Department was only processing applications from the 12^th of July. Based on this processing rate it could take months to clear the backlog.

This money is not needed at Halloween or Christmas, it is needed now. Countless families are struggling to meet the costs of sending their children to school. Books, transport, uniforms all add up. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is designed to ease the burden on struggling families but because of these delays it is failing in this objective. In fact the delays in processing this payment cause extra worry for parents who now cannot buy the complete uniform or all the books their children needs, or who are forced to divert vital money from household expenses to pay for the more pressing costs. Lower income families who do not receive this payment in time for the school year are likely to fall into arrears on other bills.

Whilst I appreciate that Minister Burton has taken some action on this issue, this is little comfort for the families who will not receive their payments for another seven weeks, if not longer. Many of these families are quite literally desperate. The children’s charity Barnardo’s has raised concerns that this may lead to parents holding their children back from commencing school until they can buy their complete uniform and their books which would obviously have a detrimental effect on the child’s progress.

I am therefore urgently appealing to Minister Burton to do all in her power to ensure that the remaining applications are processed as speedily as possible, with children returning school at present the urgency of this situation cannot be understated. This scheme was previously administered by the HSE but was this year taken over by the Department in the hopes of increasing efficiency, if this issue is not addressed this arrangement will have to be revised.

Any increase in third level college fees will have a devastating effect on countless families across the constituency. I am outraged by the whisperings that severe changes in college fees are coming down the line and am vehemently opposed to any increases in such.

This follows a statement made by Minister Ruairi Quinn earlier this week where he refused to give any guarantees that third level fees would not be reintroduced, only saving that the cost to the state of third level education has increased and that savings must be made across the education budget. Minister Quinn conceded that it is “hard to see” how higher education can meet the targets set for it by Government without new revenue streams.

Any increase in third level fees would cause serious hardships for those attempting to further their education.

Families today are being hit with increased costs from every direction. It is unconscionable to raise the costs of education to a level which would put it beyond the reach of countless people. It is my belief that providing an educated and skilled work force is essential to moving out of our current economic difficulties. Minister Quinn himself stated that a good educational system acts as a pension fund for the rest of the nation, yet he is considering making third level education aspirational instead of accessible, thereby crippling us into the future in a time where we are trying to grow as a nation.

The uncertainty over the future of college fees is particularly upsetting on a week where thousands of students across Tipperary and Offaly received their leaving cert results. After years of hard work they are now excited about moving forward with their careers or commencing colleges and universities. CAO offers will be granted next week, but how many of these students will be unable to attend or finish their college courses if fees rise? We need education for our students not emigration.

Students today are struggling to put themselves through college. Grants have been cut yet costs remain high between fees, rent and the cost of living as well as books. I believe that any increase in college fees will have a hugely detrimental impact, particularly on families with more than one child in third level education.

Throughout my career the issue of college fees has been of paramount importance. As part of the previous administration this was a key issue for me, in the last Budget I ensured that increases in third level fees were not introduced. Minister Quinn had signed a petition organized by the Union of Students, Ireland declaring that he would not cut grants or increase fees. I am calling on him to stand by his pledge in the coming months.

The EU Commission’s proposals relating to reforming the Common Agricultural Policy in 2013 have caused concern amongst the farming community.

Documents relating to CAP 2013 have recently been leaked and the details contained in the leaked documents may have serious ramifications for agriculture in Ireland. One of the proposals recommends moving to a flat rate payment system across the Eurozone by 2019 which would greatly alter the way in which the Single Farm Payment scheme operates in Ireland.

These proposed changes could have serious effects on Irish agriculture;

This essentially means that all farmers would receive a set, uniform payment per hectare. This is regardless of the quality of the land in question and disregards its productivity and capacity. At present entitlements per hectare vary according to a number of factors. It is estimated that the average price per hectare in Ireland is currently €270. A change to a flat rate system could cut our average by 8%. For farmers with high entitlements per hectare however their payments could be slashed by up to 50%.

Quite simply these cuts would strangle the most productive farmers across the constituency. Single Farm Payment is part of the lifeblood of agricultural income. It is a vital. To cut this would mean that many farmers would be forced to reduce their levels of output, destock or reduce their tillage hectares.

Minister Coveney must strenuously oppose any proposals to introduce a flat rate payment scheme. Farmers today need a flexible scheme that understands and adapts to our production patterns.

It is widely recognized that the agricultural sector is an essential part of our economic recovery. In order for it to meet the vision for Food Harvest 2020 farmers need continued support. To negatively affect the productivity of the agricultural sector will have a knock on effect on the agri-food sector, on secondary businesses in the rural economy and affect our exports. I am therefore joining with the IFA in calling for a firm and united stance in opposition to any such changes to the operation of our Single Payment scheme.