Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Indicators that have been well analysed, with the UN figures only recently coming out, show that we have lifted 250,000 from consistent poverty, including 100,000 children, over the last few years. The figures used internationally show 6% suffer from consistent poverty and we continue under the national anti-poverty strategy to put resources in place. Social welfare expenditure has doubled in the last six years. Improvement in social welfare rates have led to substantial increased spending on families: one in every three euro spent in the State goes on welfare. Every week 1 million people receive welfare payments, helping them all to one extent or another. The UN human development report, which we must submit figures to annually, states we have continued to increase social transfers substantially, resulting in real improvements in the living standards of those in poverty. The latest EU survey shows that increased resources devoted to social welfare and other services are having a significant impact and mentions the initiatives we have taken in recent years to tackle disadvantage.

If Deputy Rabbitte is asking if I agree with the measures implemented in recent years, taking into account the welfare, health and housing budgets to deal with marginalisation and deprivation, I do. We must continue to do that. The large increases in child benefit we have introduced in recent years have also helped. All of this is necessary, desirable and must continue. The Cabinet committee on social inclusion is dealing with these measures and implementing decisions.

Does Deputy Rabbitte agree that we have made substantial impacts in these areas? I agree with him that we must continue this. We must remove the causes, reduce pupil-teacher ratios and continue renovating accommodation or building more desirable and family-friendly homes. All of these issues are massively costly but we are doing them.

If Deputy Rabbitte is asking how do we equalise wealth so everyone is equally wealthy, I do not have a ready solution and it is no good trying to answer that question.

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