John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

We are now asked to believe this five-year plan for child care and the ten-year plan for Transport 21 will be delivered on time and within budget. The Minister of State must understand the degree of cynicism on the public's part that these initiatives will not be delivered upon within the schedule announced today. While the announcement on child care is a step in the right direction, it may, like decentralisation, simply end up stumbling from one crisis to another.

The increase in the carer's allowance was another slightly welcome announcement as this group was particularly neglected and forgotten. The Government led many in carers' organisations to believe the means test issue was to be tackled, but it has not been. The majority of those who care for people in their own home are not eligible for a carer's allowance because of the current means test. Today, this could have been dealt with in the budget by the Minister.

I welcome the reduction in duty on home heating oil, which is another positive move. I have often asked the Minister for Finance to increase the fuel allowance. While it was raised significantly today, sadly it was not enough. The cost of most fuels has almost doubled in the past 18 months. It will not meet the increase in fuel costs faced by the elderly, resulting in the increase being wiped out even before people have got it in their pockets.

The changes in VRT relief for flexi-fuel cars are like Alanna McCree's dog, it goes a bit of the road with everyone. This is a slight step in the right direction but just a little nudge forward.