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

The Minister stated that the spend is €3 billion, but it was also €3 billion two years ago - when one takes account of the change in the value of money - when Deputy Burton said that enough was enough and there should be no more child care cuts. The Minister spoke about what she said, but what she said does not have any meaning. I am reporting what she said, as opposed to what she did.

I am not opposed to targeting at all and neither am I opposed to making people who are earning colossal amounts of money pay tax, at the very minimum, on their child benefit. I wish to draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the Irish League of Credit Unions recently conducted a survey which showed that there are 1.85 million people whose disposable income, after all of their bills have been paid, is less than €100 per month. The survey also showed that 40% of households had to borrow money last year to pay household bills and almost one quarter of those had to resort to moneylenders. People have been subjected to increases in the cost of school transport, carbon taxes and a whole raft of other costs, including an increase in the third level registration fee, which was not supposed to happen, according to a solemn pledge signed in full view of the nation on television. There are now 750,000 people living below the internationally recognised poverty line and approximately 250,000 of those are children. Low and middle income earners have had their taxes increased by way of a reduction of 6% in tax bands and a reduction of 10% in tax credits. They are literally at the pin of their collars. Again, I ask the Minister to give people some reassurance today regarding child benefit, upon which so many families are dependent.

In her initial reply, the Minister said she would publish this report "in due course". What does that mean? Does it mean this year, next year or in five years' time?

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