Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

As the Deputy is probably aware, the comprehensive review of expenditure being undertaken by the Government follows the format used in a number of other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Holland. These were developed at times when those countries had financial difficulties. In that context, it is necessary to look at every item of expenditure in regard to the budget. I very much appreciate the contribution carers make. Carers who care on a full-time basis for people carry out a service of enormous benefit to the people they love and of enormous benefit to our society. In Ireland we have had an approach that is slightly different in this respect from that in other countries in that in many areas of social welfare, particularly during the Celtic tiger years, there was an emphasis on increasing direct payments whereas many other countries tended to put equal emphasis on payments of income supports and the provision of services. The Deputy should bear in mind that the spend this year is more than €650 million while ten years ago it was €100 million.

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