Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I probably do not mention it too often.

As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle may know, in Tallaght there is a Citizens Information Centre office and a separate Money Advice and Budgeting Service office. I suppose people will be wondering when this Bill has passed and these issues are dealt with what sort of relationship will exist locally, whether the services will fuse and the offices will be brought together. It is fair enough to raise local matters. Certainly in Tallaght, and in every other constituency, both organisations provide tremendous services and are very popular. There has always been a strong demand for the services provided by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service and thank God it has been there in good times and difficult times to help families. Now, that times are challenging again it has a particular role to play. I hope the changeover and transition will be done in a seamless way to ensure families do not notice a difference apart from increased availability of services. I expect people want this to be the case and I state it in a clear way.

In recent times, I have had representations about pensions. Tallaght Welfare Society was one of the pre-budget and post-budget submission groups. As I stated to the Minister recently, it is interesting that when its representatives attended the post-budget submission meeting at the Department they sensed no anger or difficulties with the proposals. They do not mind me stating this. Earlier in the process they had told me that it was important to examine pensions.

I always made the point, bearing in mind the financial situation in which the country found itself, that the budget had to be about consolidation and ensuring that assistance to those in need, the vulnerable, the elderly and the unemployed would be maintained and improved as far as possible. Pensions are still on the political agenda and every family in the country is examining the issue. I suspect it will be on the Minister's desk for some time and it is important that it is done.

I have heard comments about carers and as a member of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs and the Joint Committee on Health and Children, I have had a great deal of interaction with carers' groups, particularly the one based in Clondalkin which operates in my constituency. Over the past number of years, we have made progress in this regard. It is like the old saying, "a lot done, more to do" but at the same time, good progress has been made. It will never be enough but we will have recognition that these services have improved enormously over a number of years. I know the Minister will want to continue to make as much progress as possible on this issue and I hope it will remain an important target for the Department.

In any debate on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 one must discuss rent supplements. I suspect the Minister sees it as a work in progress. There is no question it is a problem that many families throughout the State avail of the service because for one reason or another they do not own their own home and difficulties will always exist in this regard. I know we must have control and it will always be difficult given that it costs the State a large amount of money. At the same time, we must understand that many people are affected.

South Dublin and the areas in my constituency of Tallaght, Firhouse, Templeogue, Greenhills, Brittas and Bohernabreena are no different in this regard. The issue must be examined. The ideal situation is that some day somebody will bravely take a decision rather than pouring money into landlords' coffers. I do not want to offend anybody but there must be a better way of providing accommodation for people.

People are entitled to aspire to own their own home. If they are not able to do so through their own resources, the local authority systems are in place. I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran, recently announced improvements in this regard. If one goes to a housing estate one will always know which houses are rented. It is true in my constituency and in Deputy Catherine Byrne's constituency, which I know because I was reared in Crumlin. I am not picking on any of these areas but one can always spot them because in many cases they do not get the same attention because the occupiers do not own them and know they will not be there forever. There is something wrong with a system in which people in rented accommodation drawing rent supplement stay in the same property forever. There must be a better way. The Minister mentioned the RAS system which has taken off and has been quite successful in south Dublin. It needs to be rolled out further and we need to get people in more settled and permanent accommodation.

Deputy Timmy Dooley and other colleagues spoke about the good news in the Bill. People across the floor are entitled to make their political points. We are all pleased that the Minister was able to come up with the funding to ensure the Christmas bonus would be paid again this year to 1.3 million social welfare recipients. I remember that earlier in the year suggestions were made, and I do not know what silly people did so, that the payment might not be made. People are unemployed and in all our communities people need social welfare benefits. The Christmas bonus has been extremely important for families and I suspect it will be even more so this year.

Those of us who live in Dublin know there is a great deal of pressure on families. The Dublin city centre Christmas lights were switched on a little early this year to attract people in and this will put pressure on those who can afford it and those who cannot. It is important the Christmas bonus scheme is maintained because people need it, including widows, widowers, pensioners, one-parent families and in particular long-term unemployed people. It is to the Minister's credit that it has been done and I hope it will continue to be done. Any attempt to change the system would have caused a great deal of upset and bother. The Minister deserves credit and our praise.

The role of a Government Deputy is always difficult. I have often stated from these benches that sometimes — only sometimes — I would like to be on the Opposition benches for a few minutes so I could do things differently. I am never afraid to speak up on behalf of my communities and represent what is stated to me as I walk the streets in my constituency every day. People want us to be positive, look forward and ensure Ireland remains open for business and people remain in employment. At the same time, where social welfare benefits are required and where intervention is necessary for families we must ensure these funds continue to be made available.

As I stated previously, I will not patronise the Minister but like Deputy Catherine Byrne I was a great admirer of her when she was at the Department of Education and Science. This has not stopped and I wish her well. She faces a big challenge, I know she will do the job and we expect her to do so.

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