Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Both of us should do what we need to do, which is to make sure additional services will be provided. The Government is absolutely committed to doing this. The next budget will prioritise services and investment in infrastructure over tax cuts, as the last one did and the one before it. It is very much the position of the Government that for every euro we give back to working people in tax reductions, two or three will be spent in the provision of better services and making improvements to infrastructure. I absolutely acknowledge that even though there are 160,000 respite care nights, 2,000 holiday respite care placements and 42,000 respite care days provided every year, it is far short of what is required. As a Government, we are determined, in working with the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, to increase the availability of respite care in the months and years ahead to give families what they need, which is hope on the horizon and the possibility of being able to carry on. Respite care is a lifeline for them which makes it possible.

See this speech in context