Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I have been in this House longer than most and I never saw more back tracking after a budget in my life. All they are doing is apologising every day they are in the Dáil.

There is the difference in the world between a pay-packet of €400 or €500 per week that is coming in through a job and the €200 that is received in social welfare payments. They are a world apart. There is no choice in social welfare, one is condemned to the lowest possible standard of living. In fairness to the Minister of State, I have no reason to believe other than that Deputy Kelleher is doing his best. The Government must get it into its head that there are people, now in their teeming thousands, who genuinely want to work. As Deputy English stated, even a small top-up on that social welfare benefit would bring back their dignity and allow them to do useful work in the community. Why is the Government not doing this? The Government sat through the best of times yet it almost closed down community employment schemes. When people had four, five or six years done they were air-brushed out of the system. Why does the Government not examine this? Regarding those of 45 years of age, there should be no one in FÁS or the Government saying that because someone spent so much time in a training programme the person is no longer eligible.

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