Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House and I compliment him and the staff at all levels of his Department for the courtesy and help they provide to us as public representatives in our regular contacts on behalf of our constituents. One always feels one's representations have been received in the best possible way. The ongoing contact to follow through on cases is to be commended as is the manner in which staff make themselves available to discuss individual cases, not only with us but also with our staff. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs and his Department are open, fair and available and long may it be so. It is a pleasure to deal with the many members of staff at local, regional and national level.

I am delighted to speak on this Bill which affects the lives of so many people around the country. Budget 2008 provides approximately €900 million in welfare payments. This includes support for 420,000 pensioners, more than 1 million children and 48,000 carers.

In Roscommon alone, more than 4,000 pensioners will be better off with the passing of this Bill. Older people represent a core priority for Fianna Fáil in Government. In 1997 and 2002, we set ambitious targets for substantially increasing what we have renamed the State pension. We not only met those targets, we have exceeded them. We increased pensions by 70% above inflation during the past ten years.

No one doubts the enormous contribution carers make to those they care for and their families. Many older people and those with disabilities depend on carers to ensure they can live at home for as long as possible. In recognition of the vital work which carers perform, the carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite grant were introduced by Fianna Fáil in government.

Since 1997, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for payments have been significantly eased, coverage of schemes has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced. Of these, more than 32,400 are in receipt of carer's allowance and more than 1,980 are in receipt of carer's benefit. More than 8,000 carers also received a respite care grant in 2007.

The introduction last year of an entitlement allowing carers to retain a full social welfare payment and to receive in addition up to half rate carer's allowance was an extremely welcome development and of real significance. These new arrangements, which came into force in September 2007, apply to almost all weekly social welfare payments including State pensions and widow and widowers pensions as well as those in receipt of qualified adult allowances. Since these changes were introduced last September more than 7,000 carers have benefited.

Ireland's economic success has been accompanied by a dramatic change in the number of women at work. Since 1997, the number of working women has increased by more than 45% and the majority of mothers now go out to work. In recognition of this, and of the growing need for child care, the Government has not only provided 35,000 child care places but also dramatically increased supports for more than 1 million children and approximately 600,000 families.

Under Fianna Fáil, child benefit has quadrupled and the early child care supplement of €1,100 per year for all children under the age of six was introduced. Taken together, these payments mean a family with two children under six receive direct financial support of €6,148 every year, an increase of approximately €4,978 since 1997. Maternity leave has also increased and mothers of new-born children can now take a full six months paid, and four and a half months unpaid, leave. This is in the best interests of mothers and babies.

I mentioned a few of the groups I feel will greatly benefit from the enactment of this Bill, which will provide approximately €17 billion on social welfare expenditure this year. This is a real commitment by the Government to those in our communities who most need support. It has always been the policy and principled position of Fianna Fáil in Government that those who are most in need should be supported, in particular when the country in which we are so fortunate to live has the economic success which allows the Government to do so.

See this speech in context