Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the level of improvement I have seen in customer-focused delivery of service by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Revenue Commissioners and certain sections of the HSE in the short number of years in which I have been a public representative. We are often critical of what is perceived to be non-joined thinking or overlapping between particular Departments. There has been a marked improvement in the service provided by the people in these Departments who deliver the frontline services, meet the public on a daily basis and assess and advise them on their entitlements. I acknowledge this and put it on the record.

The amount of funding provided to the Departments of Social and Family Affairs and Health and Children amounts to almost two thirds of the entire spending power of all Government agencies and Departments. This year, there has been a €900 million increase in the welfare support packages administered through the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2008. It will deliver significant benefits to approximately 1.5 million people, including citizens of the country and others.

In particular I welcome the supports for older people. There is a €336 million package of support for older people which will benefit almost 420,000 pensioners in the State. They include rates of increase of up to €14 per week to €223.30 and non-contributory pension rates will increase by €12 per week up to €212.

As we are experiencing a brief cold snap it is worth pointing out that the fuel allowance period is to be extended by one week. Many older members of society will welcome that.

Previous speakers commented favourably about the provisions pertaining to carers, which I welcome also. The introduction recently of the half rate carer's allowance was a positive move and there has been a significant uptake on it but more must be done. People who care for elderly relatives in their homes are taking a burden off the State and our institutions.

Despite the carer's allowance and the subvention arrangements that are in place, we could go further in the future. A person told me recently they would be willing to care for their relative in their own home but the carer's allowance would not provide enough support in that regard. The person pointed out if the relative went into a nursing home the subvention would cover that but they wanted to keep the person at home. They did not understand the reason they could not have a carer's allowance equivalent to the subvention amount. People prefer to care for their loved ones at home and we must push out the boat, so to speak, in terms of the carer's allowance. I hope to see that done in successive social welfare and pensions Bills.

The respite care grant will be up to €1,700 from June 2008 and the earnings threshold for the carer's benefit will increase by €12.50 to €332 per week. That is a positive move.

Regarding supports for families with children, lower and higher rates of child benefit are to increase to €166 and €203 respectively per month, benefiting 1.17 million children. That is a significant increase. The qualified child dependant allowance is to increase by €2 to €24 per week, which is welcome also. The additional €2 million funding for the school meals scheme is welcome also.

I want to comment on the services provided under the aegis of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and acknowledge in particular the good work done by the citizens information bureaux. An additional €1.8 million funding was made available to the citizens information bureaux, which is welcome because we are all aware of the good work they do at the coalface.

The Family Support Agency has got additional funding of €1.27 million. We are all aware of the good work it does in terms of marriage and family counselling, which is all to do with the social fabric of life, and also Foróige and the family resource centres.

I acknowledge also the work that has been done by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. In my constituency of Limerick West, now known as Limerick, there is a need to roll out the service to the principal county town of Newcastle West. A comprehensive service is provided in Limerick city and MABS recently opened a new, modern facility in Charleville, County Cork, which is accessed frequently by constituents of mine. From a local point of view the town of Newcastle West is demanding that service.

I welcome the provisions in the Bill and congratulate all who were involved in it. It is a significant package and the measures in it are positive.

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