Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

If one looks back over the past number of years and at what this Minister achieved in a very definite way last December, one can see that improvements have been maintained as far as social welfare payments are concerned. All of us in our constituencies, be they in Cork, Tipperary, Mayo, Waterford, Clare or the Dublin region, often get calls from people who tell us that they get good social welfare payments and increases and must then deal with factors like the local authorities ambushing their rents. I know local authorities will have a view about that. Somebody should grasp that particular nettle. Where families are challenged or are having difficulties, we should try to create a situation where the increases impact on them and are not gobbled up by other costs. I have referred to this matter on a number of occasions.

The work of the Department of Social and Family Affairs is very important. It is important that the Department continues to look after the vulnerable and those in need but even in the circumstances we spoke about concerning the economy, it should also keep an eye on the fact that at the end of the day, the ideal for families under pressure is to get people back to work. I hope that this continues to be very much a part of the ethos of the Department.

I congratulate the Minister on his progress. As someone once said, there is a lot done, more to do but the Minister is on the right road. I am satisfied that the Department is in safe hands.

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