John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I would need a lot more than 17 minutes to give out about the Government. However, I welcome the opportunity to speak about the budget. There has been a lot of talk in the media and criticism across the board about the unfairness of it. Most of the bad news was given out on Monday by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, who represented the Labour Party. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, received all the kudos in the newspapers today for being more fair. It seems strange that the Labour Party is not more concerned about the less well-off and poor people in society.

I have served with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in County Wexford for the past 29 years when we both became Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I have always worked reasonably well with him and we have always worked for the betterment of the ordinary people of County Wexford. That is why it baffles me that he made a statement on Monday that he was cutting the payment to people with disabilities - in some cases, by almost 100%. I am glad the Minister for Finance said last night that the Government would look at the issue again. This morning the Taoiseach said young people reaching the age of 16 years and moving from domiciliary care allowance would receive disability benefit.

I have an interest in this matter in that I have a daughter in a wheelchair who is in receipt of disability benefit. She said to me on Monday night that she thought this decision was very unfair, even though she would not be affected by it. Many people in wheelchairs and with disabilities depend on this money for reasons different from those of able bodied people. Many of daughter's friends spend a lot of money on taxis because they are not able to drive. Some of them also have special food requirements, while others need the extra few bob for different reasons.

I spoke to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform yesterday evening about this issue and welcome the fact there is to be a change. As I do not think there has been a complete change, I urge the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to row back completely on this decision.

It is almost impossible for people to find jobs, but it is completely impossible for people with disabilities to find them. Very few in the disability sector would be in a position to find a job. I asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform last night to look seriously at increasing the quota for people with disabilities in local authorities, other public bodies and Departments. Currently, it stands at 3%, but many Government organisations and bodies and local authorities are not meeting that figure which I hope the Minister will increasing to perhaps 10%. The embargo on recruitment should not apply to people with disabilities and there should be a special interview process throughout the country. Local authorities and Government bodies should be encouraged to employ people with disabilities.

It is welcome that a decision has been made to row back some of the way on the issue of disability benefit. I hope a decision will be made in the coming days the row back fully on it. I am amazed by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform being members of the Labour Party. I remember last year when the previous Government cut the rate of disability benefit from €196 to €188, the same individuals jumped up and down and said we did not care about people with disabilities.

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