Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

The priority of this budget and of the Government is, first and foremost, to stabilise the public finances. Anyone who ignores that fact is not living in the real world. We are aware from discussions throughout the year with those such as the ECB and the IMF that they expect us to take the corrective action we are taking.

I commend the Minister for leaving the State pension for our senior citizens unchanged. I went on public record a number of times during the year to state that it is important that those who built up Ireland through their blood sweat and tears, and their taxes, which made this country what it is, are protected. As a society, we should recognise that they deserve special treatment for what they have done for the country. They have always recognised the benefit of the free television licences, free bus passes, the fuel allowance, the telephone allowance and the ESB and gas allowances. These are very important and I have no doubt from the discussions I have had with senior citizens over the years that those benefits are important to them. I am delighted the Minister has been able to retain them.

Similarly, I welcome the fact the half-rate carer's allowance scheme is staying in place, as is the half-rate illness benefit and the jobseeker's benefit payments for widows and lone parents. It is also welcome that the additional payments for lone parents and people with a disability who are on CE schemes are to be maintained in full. Many speakers referred to domiciliary care allowance which is paid to parents and guardians of severely disabled or ill children under 16 years of age. That payment is being retained and amounts to more than €1,700 in a year.

Many speakers referred also to family resource centres. They play a very important role. The counselling and mediation services they provide are fantastic. Maintaining those is very welcome and I am sure those 170-odd bodies through the country will welcome this. The people involved do great work. I commend the Minister in this regard.

The social welfare budget at €21.1 billion is two thirds of our entire tax take. Some on the other side of the House suggest there should be no cuts, although Fine Gael is a bit out of tune because its programme actually calls for 3% cuts. Despite this, I heard some of its speakers throughout the day deriding the Government.

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