I ask the Minister if he could review two aspects of the scheme. First of all, regarding the £3 per week payable to such persons, is the Minister aware that the allowance in Northern Ireland, for example, is £12 per week and that really £3 per week would pay for only a couple of miles in a taxi in one direction only? It is miniscule. Would the Minister urge the health boards to exercise compassionate criteria in assessing people in view of the stringent means test which has been brought into operation for a very small number of people in the nation, only 2,500?

I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that there was nothing there before and there is something there now. Admittedly, it is only £3 a week. The idea is that people in the category who qualify will have one outing a week. That is what is intended. I know that the allowance in Britain and in Northern Ireland was £10 until recently and is being increased to £12 from 1 November. We are only starting this. There was nothing there before and it is a beginning. It is something we will keep under review and improve it as we can.