Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

——of €6, while the second is the extension of FIS to approximately 2,000 additional families. These measures should protect a number of people.

In terms of families and children and the pressures of returning to school, an additional 18,000 families will qualify for the relevant allowance. Other details of the levy will only be seen in the Finance Bill when it is finalised by the Minister. The Government remains committed to combating poverty and the specific targets we set will remain our aims until 2012 and 2016.

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