Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I do not wish to discuss the issues to which Deputy Shortall referred because I will have the opportunity to do so in respect of later amendments. In defending certain aspects of her strategy, the Minister referred to a survey in respect of which she released a press statement earlier today. I will be obliged to examine the matter in greater detail but I accept certain of the findings, particularly those relating to lone parents, etc., contained in the survey.

The important aspect of amendment No. 4 is that it calls for a complete review in respect of all social welfare categories. Another report published today did not merit a mention in the Minister's press release. This report relates to older people and shows that the number of them at risk of poverty has risen substantially in the past year. In 2006, 13.6% of those over 65 years of age were at risk of poverty, whereas in 2007 this rose to 16.6%. The figure relating to older people living alone rose from 19.3% in 2006 to 24.3% in 2007, an increase of 5%. If those figures are accurate, that is a worrying increase. More importantly, it shows the Government's lack of grasp in this regard. As a result of some of the decisions made in the budget — the decision regarding medical cards comes immediately to mind — people are aware the Government is not meeting targets in terms of our over 65s who are living in poverty. We can all be selective about what we choose to discuss. However, that is the reality of the findings. Age Action Ireland issued a press release today regarding its concerns on this issue.

Deputy Morgan's amendment provides us with an opportunity to set clear targets rather than simply produce report after report or action plan after action plan. Whenever we table parliamentary questions in respect of these reports or plans, we discover their aims are never reached anyway.

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