Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

The Minister has done a fine job. His is one of the major positions within Cabinet and a role of great importance to every family. Almost everybody must liaise with the Department of Social and Family Affairs at some stage. Those issues that come under the aegis of the Minister are ones that require ongoing investigation, debate and dialogue. I am aware he is committed to change within the Department, some of which has already happened. To make use of Fianna Fáil's election phrase, there is a lot done and a lot more to do. I hope this work will continue. The issues outlined in the motion and articulated by Senator Terry must be taken on board.

The budget for which the Minister has responsibility is enormous, comprising a sum of money on which the entire State was run some years ago. This budget encompasses a great number of schemes in respect of which there are significant anomalies that cause difficulties for many people. This issue was raised by Senators Norris and Kitt and is worthy of ongoing debate. It is a feature of our unusual political system that all Members must keep in regular contact with constituents. Every day, each of us speak to people who have queries in regard to the various social welfare schemes. It is important that we try to address the anomalies that exist. The Minister is working in this direction but there is a long way to go.

Other Members raised the issue of pensions, both contributory and non-contributory, and the question of PRSI contributions. Recent remarks from the Minister indicate this area is to the fore in his policy considerations. The next Taoiseach and Government, no matter the make-up, must give consideration to the creation of a Department of pensions, as is the case in many European states. An administrative weakness of this State is that we have more or less the same Departments that were in place 60 or 70 years ago.

Social welfare in its broadest sense is a major challenge and new challenges are emerging in this area. Within the ambit of social welfare, the issue of pensions is, as the Minister and other Members have said, a time bomb waiting to go off. In the course of the next five to ten years, we must demonstrate our serious intent in this regard by establishing a dedicated Department charged with the responsibility of tackling the pension issue. This is something the next Administration must take on board.

The child benefit payment, one of the traditional means of helping families, has been a great success. One can present all types of ideological arguments as to different ways of approaching it but, ultimately, we should not attempt to fix what is not broken. Child benefit is an effective measure. All we ask is that the Minister should continue to ensure there are realistic and meaningful increases. Child benefit has a role to play in our collective endeavours to devise an effective solution in regard to child care, which is akin to a large jigsaw encompassing different problems and requiring various solutions. Child benefit has an important function in this regard. I hope next month's Budget Statement by the Minister for Finance will include significant increases in this allowance. Such increases are necessary not only in the context of child care provision but also in terms of the broader good of society.

The farm assist scheme to which Senator Kitt referred is a useful provision. From my knowledge of the farming community and the queries I receive, however, it seems many of those entitled to this benefit do not claim it. There is a responsibility on us to ensure, through increased advertising and other means, that all those in rural areas entitled to partake in this scheme will benefit from the meaningful assistance it provides to low-income families. In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Food has introduced a social scheme in rural areas which allows people to work with their communities and receive a social assistance payment. This also has a role to play in keeping rural communities alive.

I support what has been said about the carer's allowance. Senator Terry has put forward Private Members' motions on this topic in the past. It is an outstanding scheme for those who receive benefit from it. Unfortunately, however, the means testing requirement ensures the majority of those who provide full-time care for elderly relatives do not receive financial support. With the introduction of last year's respite grant, the Minister moved towards a type of universal payment and recognition of care in the home or community. As a policy statement, we should have no hesitation in offering financial support to any person, poor or slightly richer, who looks after a relative or neighbour on a full-time basis.

The cost to the State of providing for a person to be looked after in his or her home is far less than that involved in placing the person in a community facility, district hospital or private nursing home. For every €250 or €300 the Department pays in carer's allowance, hundreds of euro are saved from the weekly budget of the Department of Health and Children. I appeal strongly to the Minister, who I know is examining this issue, to consider dropping the means test for the carer's allowance. It would transform the way the elderly are looked after and would be worthwhile from both an economic and social perspective.

I support Senator Terry's comments in regard to the extension of PRSI support for those who work in the voluntary sector. Volunteerism has disappeared. An international effort last year to stem the tide, the International Year of the Volunteer, was insufficient. We must show practical support for the volunteer effort. The Minister should, through the various schemes in his Department, try to ensure that those who give voluntary help and support to their communities, to the great benefit of society at large, are given some type of PRSI recognition.

Notwithstanding the political divide that will take place in an hour's time, I hope the Minister will take on board what Senator Terry has said. The issues she has raised point to the practical, necessary components of an effective social structure to underpin our economic growth.