Reference to increased State support for older people is made on page 82 of the programme for Government. During the hustings relating to his party's leadership election, the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, published a document on 22 May in which he committed to the restoration of the bereavement grant. Members will recall that this was when he was still Minister for Social Protection. As Minister, he also re-centralised the information section of the Department, with 35 positions being transferred back to Dublin from Sligo. When will the bereavement grant be restored in line with the pre-election commitment of the Taoiseach? What stage is this commitment at? When will the grant be restored? Are staff being recruited for the Sligo office to administer this plan as it was before and can the Tánaiste inform the House in this regard?

I have no doubt that this will be considered in the context of the budget. I pay tribute to Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell who recently published a very comprehensive study on the issues relating to bereavement.