Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Disability and carer's allowances are also rising at a faster rate than we had projected. We will give the committee what we can. I take the Chairman's point.

It is well recognised that poverty rates are higher among those living alone. The gap is not as big as I thought it was, but there is one, arising from the additional costs of running a house. An increase in the living alone allowance of €1 per week costs €10 million and I am not sure that an extra €1 would change much. It would be better than nothing, but I am not so sure how well it would be received. I have already covered direct provision.