Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has increased spending on carers by almost €20 million. This year we are spending €780 million on carers, €520 million on carer's allowance; €23 million on carer's benefit; €132 million on the respite care grant and €104 on domiciliary care allowance. Some 52,000 people are in receipt of carer's allowance, whereas in 2001 there were 20,000.

This is about making decisions that will get people back to work and support an economy that is about the people. There is a focus on the respite care grant that many of us would prefer was not on it. This is not a cut that anybody in his or her right mind would make if it was a time of boom and bloom. However, it is a cut imposed on us because of the economic policies pursued by the Members opposite. I know and appreciate Deputy John Browne finds the narrative hard to take.

See this speech in context