Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It was obvious that the old age pension would feature in the budget but, nonetheless, it is welcome to see the increase hitting the €200 mark. While the non-contributory pension has been kept on the bare €200, I thought the Minister could have raised it a bit more. I do not know why the contributory old age pension contains an odd figure of 79 cent, but that is the way they work in the Department.

As regards new home buyers, I am glad the Minister held out against the surge from the Progressive Democrats.