When one considers that €10.65 billion is being spent on social welfare after a reduction in unemployment rates from 10.3% in 1997 to 4.4% today, we can see that there has been a significant improvement in real terms in the level of social welfare provision. I am pleased to have secured an increase in the social welfare Estimate for the coming year even before account is taken of budgetary increases. This underlines this Government's commitment to the elderly, our children, those less well off, those who are sick, unable or incapable of caring for themselves and those who find themselves unemployed.