Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Nobody denies that welfare rates have increased fairly significantly in recent years. Will the Minister engage on this one issue? Does she accept that one cannot operate a one-size-fits-all approach in regard to social welfare payments? This is the fundamental point being made in the Vincentian Partnership research. For example, in regard to child rearing costs one cannot say it costs the same amount to rear a three year old as a 17 year old. What the Vincentian Partnership research has asked is that the Minister should consider introducing a new system of measuring the adequacy of social welfare payments which actually recognises the real costs involved for different types of families. Obviously there are significant costs when rearing teenagers in terms of clothing and food — similar to an adult in those respects — but also school costs. From her previous job, the Minister should be aware of the huge financial pressures on low income families with teenagers.

The other area is in respect of lone pensioners where the living alone allowance has not been increased for 12 years and is set at €7.70. One cannot possibly say that the overheads and expenses associated with day to day living are the same for one person as for two people. The Minister is not taking into consideration these particular costs in regard to those categories of families. Will the Minister consider taking the approach suggested in the Vincentian Partnership documents?

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