More than 17,000 people who are on illness benefit will now qualify for the Christmas bonus. That is a good move and is an acknowledgement of the financial pressure they are under. I acknowledge that. They should also be able to access the means-tested fuel allowance. Up until now they have been precluded from the means-tested allowance on the basis that they are on a short-term payment. Really, people just want to recover their health and get back to work and a somewhat normal life. In the meantime, however, when they are off work with their health condition, they still have financial commitments: the mortgage must be paid, the car loan must be paid and so many commitments. Unless the employer is giving them a top-up they are in a difficult financial position. Given that the acknowledgement is there now for the Christmas bonus, and given the pressure that people are under, can this be taken a step further so people who are receiving illness benefit for more than 12 months will get the means-tested fuel allowance?

To be fair, the Deputy has acknowledged the significant move in including illness benefit in the Christmas bonus. That was on top of a whole range of additional payments that have been made since the summer and since autumn began, right through to Christmas with the cost-of-living package. Of course, once we make additional moves the call is to go further again and further again. It is all within a very substantial envelope of more than €11 billion. It is, however, an issue we will keep under review. The Deputy has suggested that people on illness benefit from more than 12 months could be considered. I will revert back to the Minister on this but I think we have made a great deal of progress so far.