Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister stated, the budget will put money into the pockets of lower and middle income families throughout the country. It is the first budget introduced during our term of office, during the past six years, which has done this. That to which I refer has only been made possible because of the very tough decisions the Government has taken since it came to power and as a result of the sacrifices the people have made. The Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform have made it clear that this will be the first of three budgets which will put money back into people's pockets and which, in the process, will help to stimulate spending in local economies.

I wish to focus on the increase in child benefit, that is, the extra €5 per child per month being granted next year - a similar increase is foreseen in the following year's budget - which will help families to cover their everyday living costs. Telephone calls I have received from constituents in places such as Duleek and Kells indicate that this €5 will prove to be of benefit. The decision to increase child benefit is a positive one and I am surprised that members of the Opposition are critiquing it so strongly and claiming that it will benefit high income families over their low and middle income counterparts. I do not believe that will prove to be the case. The increase in child benefit will reach at least 94% of low and middle income earners with children. These are the people the budget is intended to help and support. The increase in child benefit is a sign that this will happen, that we are listening and that we are aware of people's concerns. We know how difficult it is for some. We are going to make changes and give money back to people as the economy recovers.

We will not wreck the economy in the way in which our predecessors did. We will be prudent, but we will also ensure that, as funding becomes available, money will be given back. In that context, I would like consideration to be given to introducing a further budget in the spring of next year. As the national economy recovers and income increases, we must ensure we get money into the real economy. We must also get it into people's pockets to assist them in covering their everyday expenses.

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