Age Action is a wonderful organisation. In response to the Covid crisis, it developed a hardship fund for older people throughout the country who are finding it impossible to make ends meet. Some 21,000 older people applied to the fund, but there was only enough money for 1,000 grants. It is interesting that Fine Gael Deputies and councillors throughout the country tweeted about the fund or posted about it on Facebook. Some took out adverts in their local paper and put the fund next to their photograph. However, it is not a State-backed fund, which is why it ran out of money so quickly. The number of applications to the fund underlines that there is no flexibility in the pockets of those on the State pension. Many of them have been driven into hardship by the Covid crisis. There is a mismatch between the resources that have been allocated and the need that exists among older people. I ask the Tánaiste to step in and ensure the Government contributes to the fund to make certain that the 21,000 older people who applied to it will receive money to help them through the current situation.

I had the privilege of visiting Age Action a few months ago, in the early phase of the pandemic, to see the work it does and to thank its staff personally for their work. I think State funding was provided to the fund, but I will have to double-check that. If my recollection is correct, State funding was provided. The Government can certainly give consideration to whether additional funding could be provided. I would have to discuss the matter with the Minister responsible.