Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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That is perhaps a social issue which we have to negotiate. Maybe the committee could make a recommendation to us that would be helpful in that respect but it does have to be negotiated.

To come back to the issue of the €220 million we have saved, there is a broader issue that I referred to in my statement. The demographics mean we have more children, which is great but that means more child benefit. That is a universal payment. I am not going to debate it now but I am in favour of a universal payment, not least for the reason Deputy Butler gave earlier, that there are 340,000 self-employed people and the number is growing. The child benefit has been, and still is, a very important cash flow for all those self-employed building contractors around the country who have two, three or four children. For the time being I will continue to prioritise it, notwithstanding a growing body of people who suggest much of it might be spent on pre-school education. Our child benefit is paid to children under the age of 18 and children continue to be a demand.

Another area of expenditure is approximately €200 million a year to meet the needs of additional pensioners. We have done that without any big fuss or hullabaloo through the worst of the crisis when everyone said we should cut benefits for the existing pensioners and get it out of that.

Consequent on this changing age profile, there is a steady increase in the number of domiciliary care allowance payments. I am not saying it is huge but it is there. For instance, during the last session we addressed the issue of children on the Asperger's syndrome and autism spectrum. We have more carers partly because of the number of older people, which I think is a very good thing to stand over. That does, however, mean that we must consider what happens to carers next. It is why I meet the Carers Association regularly. We have several pilots going with them so when people are finished caring they can have more access to schemes and services. The committee could perhaps come forward with ideas on that.

A vote is taking place now so we are all going to attend to it. We do not want the Government to fall or the election to take place any earlier than is necessary.