Dr. Tom McDonnell:

That is a very important question. From the commission's perspective, a figure was not identified. The reason for that was the recommendation was that there needed to be a benchmarking process. It was felt that out of the benchmarking process would come percentages or figures that would be appropriate to reflect the cost of children, the cost of disability, the cost of renting and the cost of old age, whatever it might be. Therefore, that process, which probably should involve an ongoing commission to advise - not tell - the Government on matters, would probably provide a range of rather than specific numbers. I cannot give the Deputy a specific figure on that but I would anticipate that it would be quite significant, and, obviously, on top of the existing child benefit, which would be benchmarked.