Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I do not know if the Minister is aware of a number of studies done on poverty traps in the social welfare system in 2005 and 2006. The Government had not introduced any changes which have had a positive impact by reducing these traps. The most recent budget was especially negative in terms of disincentivising people to work. I received a call from a gentleman yesterday who, having been offered a job with a salary of €22,000 per annum, decided it was not worthwhile to accept the offer because he would be better off on social welfare.

On the qualified child increase, Government policy for the past 15 years has been that increasing this benefit creates a poverty trap. What poverty proofing did the Department do to ensure that the decision in the budget to change child benefit did not create a further poverty trap? The changes in the qualified child increase and family income support create a disincentive to return to work as people who enter employment will lose these benefits.

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