Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

One can devise a range of measures but it is a question of targeting resources. We have trebled that resource since coming into office from €531 million to €1.9 billion, which represents a considerable transfer of funds to this area. An extra €1.3 billion is going into the child benefit system. Progress is being made and those who have problems with it have yet to come up with alternatives.

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