Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

There will be a 5% additional cut in the budget for Ministers. That is a fact. Some 10% was taken already earlier this year. Let us compare this with the 6% cut that blind people will receive between now and 2 January. It is not acceptable that the blind are the focus of this Government and it should not be the intention of any Member to focus the cuts on the most vulnerable in our society. There will be a cut in the disability allowance, the blind pension, the blind welfare allowance and the carers' allowance. The cuts will affect the most vulnerable people in society and those unable to work. That is where the focus of attention has been on this occasion.

The average full-time carer in this State saves the taxpayer approximately €40,000 per year. It will be a bleak winter for them because the Government has ignored the contribution that carers make to society. Some 47,000 people in receipt of the carers allowance can expect a 2% cut next week and there will be a further 4% cut in the first week in January. The cut goes against stated Government policy of caring for people in their own homes for as long as possible and further demonstrates what little appreciation and recognition it has for carers. Let us not forget the long promised carers strategy, which was supposed to address the needs of carers but which has been shelved by the Government. Further, last week the HSE announced it would shelve the home care packages such that the staff can be used to carry out the swine flu vaccination programme.

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