Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I am trying to maintain the anonymity of the people who wrote to us. The Taoiseach's answer does not give any sense of understanding the enormity of the impact of this premeditated budgetary change to means test those on family income supplement who are in receipt of the carer's allowance. People are saying they know we have a great deal on our plates but please stand up for them and their families. The writer of the e-mail states the family currently receives €190 in family income supplement - I am skipping paragraphs - but if the carer's allowance is included as income and means tested, this figure will be reduced to only €50 per week. This is not a misprint. The decline in income, from €190 to €50 per week, is unacceptable and cannot be justified.

I received a telephone call from a constituent who indicated that staff in the same company who are earning €90,000 - this did not include the caller - had said the budget is all right because it does not affect them. How in the name of God can anyone in this House claim that this is a fair budget if those who, by definition, are on the lowest tier of the income ladder given that they receive family income supplement are hit to the tune of €140, €100 or €50 per week? While the amounts vary, these are not isolated cases. The common denominator is that people on family income supplement are caring for somebody who needs care. They would not receive the carer's allowance otherwise.

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