Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has made a couple of extraordinary statements since the start of Question Time. I am overwhelmed by her boasting about last year's budget when, according to Social Justice Ireland, an organisation with no axe to grind, it was the most socially regressive budget in the last ten years. The Minister said her Department had not been flying kites but there are so many kites coming out of the Department of Social Protection it will need an air traffic control system.

Wherever this proposal came from, or whatever Government supported it, it was proposed last year by the Minister for Finance in the budget. There were two parts to it. First, the domiciliary care allowance for 16 to 18 year olds was to go to the parents instead and, second, the amount was to be cut. I had no problem with the first measure, I could see the reasoning behind the argument that the money should go to the parents, particularly in cases like this.

The second measure, the proposal to cut the amount, however, generated the controversy. The Government withdrew that proposal in the teeth of public opinion.

In withdrawing the proposal the Taoiseach said, this is a case in which the Government has listened. He also said that the Government did not get it right. Now the kite is being flown again, even though the Taoiseach said last year that it was wrong. If it was wrong last year, how is it right this year? Will the Minister give an assurance that she will not proceed with the proposal in her budgetary provisions?

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