Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has a proud tradition of supporting and championing the rights of the poorest members of our society. I am aware it recently expressed concerns about increased demands on its supports and services in the Dublin area.

I draw attention to the fact that people who are experiencing immediate financial emergencies can avail of the community welfare service which operates the exceptional and urgent needs payment schemes on behalf of my Department. Improvements in social welfare supports are normally introduced by way of the annual budget. Following budget 2008, overall social welfare spending in 2008 is projected to be just under €17 billion. This is an increase of €1.5 billion, or more than 10%, over 2007.

Budget 2008 provided for increases in welfare rates of payment which are ahead of the projected increases in prices for 2008. These included: an increase in the maximum personal rates of contributory pension of €14, or 6.7%, per week, bringing them to €223.30, and an increase of €12 per week, or 6.5%, in the lowest personal rates of payment, bringing them to €197.80.

Over the last five budgets, the lowest social welfare rates have increased by 58% compared with cumulative price increases of 17% in the same period. In 2004, the lowest social welfare rate of payment equated to 24% of gross average industrial earnings. In 2008, this rate will equate to 30%.

In addition, a wide range of improvements for families with children were also announced. Following the budget, total child income support for a welfare dependent family with one young child will be €87.77 per week, or an increase of 7% over 2007. The level of increases introduced this year clearly demonstrates the Government's determination to fully protect the most vulnerable in our society and to make real progress towards achieving our commitments for pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and all others relying in whole or in part on a welfare payment.

I look forward to making further progress in this regard in the years ahead and I will certainly take into account the views put forward by the society and other welfare organisations in this regard.

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