Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute on this Stage and thank the Minister for bringing the Bill to the House. We can all agree so many of our constituents are clearly facing tough times. They are worried about how they are going to pay for their shop at the end of the week, how they are going to keep the lights and heat on and keep so many bills at bay.

Many of the people who are genuinely struggling will recognise that in the Bill we have a series of realistic, comprehensive and compassionate measures as part of a €1 billion social welfare package that follows on from a much wider budgetary package involving all Departments. The measures go to the core of how the Government can genuinely help people and provide the people who need the supports with such supports in these tough times.

It is important to note again some of the measures announced in the budget and again this evening. These include increasing the social welfare weekly rates by €12, increasing the working family payment threshold by €20, a €30,000 increase in the savings disregard for the fuel allowance means test, extending eligibility for community employment schemes and increasing the domiciliary care allowance by €20. I welcome the comments by Deputy Sherlock, which were genuine and constructive. While he identified some issues that must be worked through, we can all agree there is much to welcome in this Bill. Sadly, the Deputy's contribution stands quite starkly in contrast to those of some of the previous speakers. I watched them with keen interest from the office and indeed it delayed me coming down because I did not want to miss anything.

When we compare the opposing budgets, we see those on fuel allowance will be given an additional €400 before Christmas, while Sinn Féin wanted to give them just €60. An additional 80,000 pensioners will be included in the fuel allowance, but Sinn Féin did not want to do this. Carers are getting a €500 lump sum compared with €180 under Sinn Féin. It is important to be honest in what are debating this evening. We are trying to help people in a realistic way that will not just benefit the most marginalised and at risk in society but also ensure that if we must do more as part of the wider budgetary process, we can do so. We will not be a hostage to fortune through some wild energy cap and, equally, we have a reserve fund because we do not know when the war in Ukraine is going to end. We do not know when the inflation crisis is going to end or when the various impacts and global economic shocks are going to end. It is a responsible act that the Government has not only provided for people immediately, that is, before the January window, but also in a consistent manner that will last through the year and that there is a reserve fund that can be dipped into if needs be. This is good, prudent economics. We all know we face vast challenges in our society at the moment but if we do not face them responsibly and sensibly, then we have no chance of countering them.

In conclusion, before passing to Deputy Dillon, I thank the Minister for her forthright contribution. Those of us who want to ensure we can iron this out and deliver this as best as possible would welcome her engagement on that.

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