Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's point. When dealing with this matter in the Dáil last week, the Minister, Deputy Doherty, made the point that while she also acknowledges the issue, it estimated that the annual cost of reverting to the pre-2012 bands would be well over €70 million for next year and that the annual cost of giving this extra money to people would increase by between €10 million and €12 million per year. In putting together the budget for 2018, we put in place a number of measures to raise revenue to allow us to pay for a social welfare package which would make a difference in a number of areas, but we did have to make choices about where to put that money. In the run-up to the budget I was never in a position to indicate that it would be possible to resolve this issue in a single budget or in budget 2018. As I have said, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection is looking at the matter very carefully. If there are any developments, she will update the House. I will obviously work with her in that regard.

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