Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I have made considerable changes in this area. Some 16 amendments were introduced last year. In the case of five or six amendments, depending on how one considers them, we have reverted to the previous situation. We made substantial amendments in another five or six areas and I will continue to review or discuss the remainder with the social partners, as necessary. We spent some time examining them in detail and substantial changes were made to the measures announced last year.

Changes were made in regard to lone parents, namely, the transitional payment for a one-parent family was restored and will now be available for a period of six months where a recipient's income exceeds €293 per week. The back to education allowance scheme was amended and the qualifying period reduced from 15 months to 12 months. In addition, the cost of education allowance increased by €254 to €400 to assist in this area. I gave a commitment in the other House, which I am happy to repeat here, that between now and September, when most people will sign on for these courses, I will examine whether it is possible and practical for me to reduce the qualifying period further. The income limit for child dependency allowance was increased.

With regard to the money advice and budgeting service, one of the 16 areas referred to, a saving of €700,000 was announced last year. I have restored a similar figure to enable MABS to improve its services. It is a special, additional €700,000 to match the €700,000 that was not in its previous budget. It is not an exact reversal, though some Senators probably think it is, but a better way to do things because it allows MABS more freedom as a professional organisation to dictate.

We have made substantial changes in the crèche supplement, an area about which Senators were concerned. I have restored a figure of €2.3 million which is exactly the saving achieved by the discontinuance of the supplement. That is now being made available to ensure that vulnerable families can continue to have access to the crèche supplement, for example in cases where a social worker or public health nurse deems it necessary. I am consulting the Minister for Health and Children in terms of channelling this funding.

We have restored a figure of €2 million to improve the diet supplement arrangements in consultation with the professional institutes involved. That is a considerable amendment. Regarding rent allowance, I have abolished the six months entitlement rule which Senators were concerned about. Instead we have the requirement that applicants be bona fide tenants who experience a change of circumstances and are genuinely in need of accommodation. They will be required to demonstrate that, which is not difficult. Additionally, we have transferred €19 million to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as an initial measure to enable local authorities to put long term housing solutions in place.

There are other measures which we have changed substantially but these are the main ones raised by Senators in previous debates, namely, crèche, rent, diet and back to education allowances. I can go through the other measures if Senators wish me to do so. The amendments have been substantially altered and are now better targeted and focused. We will continue to review the remaining items and see what changes we can make.