Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

One often hears that the money from the Celtic tiger was wasted. However, I wish to put on the record of the House a few essential facts. In the past decade, the Government has been able to provide highly significant increases in welfare payments. For example, the payment of child benefit has increased from less than €44 to €166 per month. The State contributory pension has risen from €113 to more than €230 per week. The weekly rate of long-term jobseeker's allowance was raised from €93 to €204.

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