Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, to the House and congratulate her on her appointment. In this season of goodwill, I do not wish to be the person to spoil the party and rain on the parade of Members opposite, of whom I am fond. However, this Bill calls to mind Ebenezer Scrooge and Bad Santa. We were promised before the general election that there would be substantial increases in social welfare. That has not been the case. We hear instead words such as "moderate" and we are reminded of the change in the budget outlook from surplus to deficit. That is the backdrop to this Bill.

In her fine contribution, the Minister of State does not take cognisance of the reality that there is a growing divide in society. This growing divide is not between rich and poor but between the poor and those in the middle. The evidence of this is everywhere. Any social welfare increases are welcome but they must be put in perspective. Energy and food costs are rising consistently, as are the costs of education and many other services. With inflation running at 5%, people are struggling. The reality for many is that these increases are gone before they even come. Child poverty remains a cause for serious concern. One in nine children lives in consistent poverty and one third of children are at risk of poverty. With 21% of the overall population at risk of poverty, Ireland has the third highest rate in Europe. An analysis of the budget shows it has failed to tackle child poverty.

The Minister spoke about the need for a national carer's strategy and there has been much talk from the Government about recognising carers. Members were informed that the carer's strategy would be in place by the end of this year but there is no evidence of that. Will the Minister of State clarify this? Carers make a valuable contribution to society. There must be a blueprint and plan to ensure the provision of services, supports and entitlements is as efficient as possible. I will read from a letter I received this week from a constituent who is a full-time carer. It reads:

I am a full-time carer with my own disability caring for my 90-year-old disabled dad, a stroke sufferer since August 2000. On Saturday morning I had to call a doctor at 2 a.m. for Dad, who was greatly agitated and had a high temperature. Fearing pneumonia, which dad had in August, I was afraid for a relapse. Dad was admitted to CUH at approximately 3 a.m. to 3.30 a.m. and was put on a trolley. I stayed with him until 7.30 a.m. and when I left, he was agitated, frightened and very distressed. Dad finally got a bed at 3 p.m., after 12 hours on the trolley.

Despite the assertion by Government that it can be a pleasurable experience, it was not so. After ten years of the so called Celtic tiger, why is this so? I have spent almost 21 years caring firstly for my late mother, who often had to spend 12 to 14 hours on a trolley ten years ago, and nothing has changed.

The letter concludes:

Without carers the health system would collapse. Please do not patronise me by saying that the system will improve, that the proposed and aspirational centres of excellence will change things. Until you replace the 5,000 hospital beds closed down in the bad old days, the situation will not improve.

That letter was from a constituent and carer concerned about quality.

Fuel prices have risen but we have received a minimal increase in the fuel allowance. Some people in Cork and many other parts of the country are opening doors wearing coats, scarves, hats and gloves because they are afraid to put on heating. A rise of 62 cent a week is not the most luxurious increase. Come the end of spring, St. Vincent de Paul and other organisations will have received hundreds of calls regarding heating and energy bills.

Senator McFadden mentioned pension increases of between 6% and 6.7%, with inflation at 5%. It is not a great increase. I look forward t the comments of Senator Boyle and others in the Green Party, who when in Opposition last year spoke on the pension increases introduced then.