Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus déanaim comhgairdeas léi as ucht an Bhille seo, agus go háirithe as ucht na hoibre atá déanta aici go dtí seo.

The past five years have seen a dramatic improvement in the provision of welfare services. Many of the major players in the area of social services, including those involved in social partnership, have admitted that the improvements have had direct effect in this area. There is always more to do and the Government has shown its commitment to continuing this work, particularly in terms of the Bill before us, by consolidating the improvements for pensioners, children, those in employment, the unemployed, widows, widowers and carers and those for whom they care.

When addressing the House on the Estimates, the Minister for Finance said money alone was not the answer in terms of delivering top quality public services and that, if it was, we would have solved all our problems. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is a prime example of a Department moving with the times and providing a caring and efficient service to its wide scope of clients. In rural and urban areas throughout the country, services are provided on a daily basis to a vast array of people in differing social and economic circumstances. These services range from child benefit to old age pensions and from farm assist payments to work initiatives. Every facet of life is covered.

The changes in the recent budget copperfastened all social welfare payments and delivered increases to every social welfare recipient, despite stringent economic circumstances. When taken in conjunction with the substantial increases across the board in the past five years, these changes have gone a long way in promoting and improving the social inclusion of those who find themselves in need of assistance. The additional €3.5 billion invested in the system in the past five years has paid dividends and is worth protecting. The changes suggested in the budget enhance this protection.