Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

The social welfare budget has risen by €1 billion, which is an increase of 8.8% on last year. The total spending on social welfare has more than doubled since 1997. Payments have increased by three times the expected rate of inflation.

A total of 1.5 million people will benefit from social welfare payments weekly. There has been a fourfold increase in child benefit since 1997. The increase of €10 for each of the first two children and an increase of €12 for the third and subsequent children is welcomed by the mothers and fathers of this country.

I welcome the family support agency increase of €2 million for family resource centres — we have one in Cavan town that is doing great work — the €900,000 for the expansion of the family mediation service, the €600,000 additional funding for marriage and family counselling which is doing tremendous work throughout the country, the €70,000 for the development of information dissemination, and €60,000 for the second phase of family research programmes. I commend the Minister for increasing the budget of MABS which is also doing tremendous work throughout the country helping many poor and vulnerable people. I again congratulate him on his 2005 budget and wish him well in his office.