Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

It sends out the wrong signal and it is not on. If the shop was run correctly and €2 billion was not wasted on fraud, none of these cuts would have to be made. The shop has not been run well. Even though there are some great aspects to social welfare benefits, money was squandered and there were no checks and balances.

The 4.1% cut to the blind pension represents an attack on the most vulnerable. We all know that where community welfare officers were giving out rental allowance, rents were exorbitant. Local authorities are doing an excellent job. This measure was introduced in 2004, with responsibility allocated to local authorities. I cannot understand why 22,400 people have moved since the scheme was established. Competent people in local authorities are not dishing out money but are checking and putting people in the right areas. We must ensure that local authorities implement the rental accommodation scheme. Community welfare officers are too busy to carry out checks and balances. In my town, people were in receipt of €600-€700 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. In contrast, a three-bedroom apartment in Sligo or Dublin rented by people working as bankers or nurses cost almost half of that figure. That was wrong and the local authorities can do a much better job on this. The work should be given to them.

Bill Vaughan said it would be nice if the poor could receive half of the money spent on studying them. There are far too many quangos and vested interests. When the people come marching to Leinster House, the Garda should direct them away from Leinster House to Anglo Irish Bank on St Stephen's Green. These people were not elected but they ran Ireland. They had access to Ministers and the next protest march that comes up here should be sent to Anglo Irish Bank.

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