Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I very much welcome the focus on child benefit, as a payment that is not taxed or means tested. The message should continue to go very clearly from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and from the Houses of the Oireachtas to the Department of Finance that this payment is not to be means tested or taxed. This is a payment that goes to the heart of the family. It is one of the most fundamental payments to prevent child poverty and to provide many people in difficult situations with the money they need to meet some of their household bills. Child benefit must continue to increase to take into consideration the type of expenses it is intended to cover. It is a support for the family and for the lone parent. It is a universal payment and must stay as it is.

The Minister knows my feelings on this payment. I am disappointed that we did not increase it to the level that we expected. I understand and accept, however, that not everything was possible in a year when there were difficult choices to be made, but the mark must be set as we face into the next two years that we have to protect this payment. In the context of a payment to a three child family the benefit is now at €408.50 every month, and for a family of four children the payment is €565.80 beginning this year. That is a very fair payment but I want to see it increased because it is making a difference to families. I will continue to defend it for as long as I am in a position to do so and hopefully get it increased each year to achieve what we promised to do and what I believe is a fair and rightful payment.