Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I also take the opportunity to compliment everybody working in those agencies in County Roscommon. Educating people regarding their finances and how to embark on good financial practice is a good first step. As I said, I have the height of respect for MABS and the work it does.

There will be €515 million worth of improvements in social welfare rates for the coming year. I believe this shows a determination to protect those in our society who most need our support, such as pensioners, families dependent on social welfare payments and those who are seeking employment. Increases have been targeted to deliver a package of supports for those who are mainly on a fixed income and are some of the most vulnerable in our society.

We are currently experiencing difficult economic times compared to previous budgets and the Government has had to make some difficult decisions in order to secure our economic future. Overall spending on social welfare schemes is greatly increased with €19.6 billion planned to be spent supporting more than 1.7 million men, women and children in our country.

It is important to bear some of the figures in mind. The coming year will see an increase of €7 per week for all State pensioners, contributory and non-contributory, along with carers aged 66 and over. Increases for qualified adults range from €4.30 to €6.30 per week for those over 66 years of age. What all this means is that a pensioner couple will have a weekly increase of €13.30 per week. Over €260 million extra has been targeted to support people of working age claiming jobseeker's benefit or allowance, which increases by €6.50 per week from January 2009. Overall, 733,000 people are in receipt of working age payments, such as jobseekers, one-parent families and those claiming illness benefit and disability allowance, as well as carers. They will all benefit from increases in weekly personal rates in the coming year.

There have been targeted increases for families with children who are in receipt of social welfare payments or low income earners through the family income supplement. Family income supplement is to increase the earnings threshold by €10 per child, which gives an increase of up to €6 per week per child. For those in receipt of social welfare payments with children, the qualified child increase rises from €24 to €26 per week from January. There is also an extension in the numbers eligible to claim the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. It was also announced that €500,000 is being provided to the Family Support Agency to develop a programme to promote positive parenting skills. We must not forget that the family is at the centre of our society and anything that can contribute to families is to be welcomed.

I support the Bill and believe it has the interest of those most vulnerable in our society at heart. We are all human and must never forget that behind the raft of statistics and numbers we all encounter every day, there are real people. The Bill caters for those real people and understands the needs of the most vulnerable sections of our society in these changed economic times.

I welcome the news that the Christmas bonus has been confirmed for social welfare recipients

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