Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I do not have much time to address all of the issues raised. On the general situation, since 2004 carer's allowance has increased by 46.1% for people under 66 years of age, jobseeker's payments increased by 39.5%, disability allowance increased by 39.5% and one-parent family payment increased by 39.5%. In the same period, the cost of living has increased by 11.8%. Even with these adjustments, therefore, there have been considerable gains since 2004.

Many issues were raised in the debate. In regard to carers, I reiterate my view that the most important thing to do for carers was to protect the architecture that exists in terms of all of the benefits they have-----

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