Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

This Minister has brought before the House a Bill that deals with the single biggest expenditure on social welfare packages since 1997. Child poverty is being addressed by this Government not just by means of the child benefit payment. The Government is examining a range of measures directed at child poverty. There are issues such as uniform allowance and direct payment for provision of food for children at school. These payments are directed to the family. Child benefit is a family payment, directly focused on the cost of child care. It benefits 524,000 families and approximately 1 million children will benefit from this increase. This is something of which we should be proud. The child benefit payment has been increased and is greater than inflation when calculated on a daily basis.

We have also examined the carer's respite grant. This Government introduced the carer's allowance and has now introduced the carer's respite grant.

Not only has carer's respite grant been introduced but we have also introduced carer's benefit. We brought in innovative legislation which dealt with the fact that many people, who are in receipt of social welfare payments, choose to take time off from work. With the agreement of the employer, if they have the appropriate number of social welfare contributions, they may apply for carer's leave and maintain all their social welfare, pension and employment rights and, where eligible, be paid carer's benefit. Those who are not working may claim carer's allowance. I wish we lived in a world where all carers could be paid all the money but we do not live in such a world. Every year choices have to be made. We live in a country that is bound by the global economy. Ireland generates its wealth from its economy and we must decide how to spend that wealth.