Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Máire Hoctor, to the House. I commend the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Martin Cullen, for securing a social welfare budget of almost €17 billion for 2008 and for receiving almost half of the extra €1.7 billion that has been made available since the publication of the pre-budget Estimates.

Overall, 31% of the country's gross current expenditure in 2008 will be accounted for by social welfare spending and this is a measure of the level of priority the Government attaches to this area. Ireland has an excellent social welfare system that guarantees a minimum level of income and a basic standard of living for every citizen in the State. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the staff of the Department of Social and Family Affairs who provide an outstanding service to public representatives and to the public. There are fine information services available to the public, in particular the outstanding website, information leaflets, telephone lines and citizens advice centres around the country.

I often find that it becomes our task as politicians to inform people of their social welfare entitlements because many members of the public do not know their full entitlements and need information to allow them apply and benefit from schemes. In this regard I welcome the extra allocation of €1.8 million in the 2008 budget to the Citizens Information Board. This will allow for the enhanced availability of resources and information services in the year ahead.

We have a duty to ensure a decent quality of life for elderly citizens. I welcome the increase in the contributory and non-contributory State pension. Elderly people who have made enormous sacrifices in more difficult economic circumstances, must be taken care of. Many of them worked abroad for long periods and have returned home for their retirement. It is important they are provided with a level of income that allows them to live out their days in dignity and with a degree of self-respect.

I welcome the progress made towards the commitment to a State pension of €300, at a minimum, by 2012. I also acknowledge the improvements in recent years in the household benefits package, electricity, fuel and telephone allowances and the provision of free television licences and the lengthening of the period for the payment of the fuel allowance. These measures take some pressure off older people. It is interesting to note the recently published findings of the EU survey on income and living conditions which confirm that the rate of a risk of poverty for older people has fallen from just under 30% in 2003 to 13.6% in 2006. While it might seem cold and impersonal to speak in statistical terms about poverty, it is important to benchmark the progress being made. It is necessary to have an independent analysis of our efforts to address poverty among older people.

The Bill is to be welcomed for providing an increase of €27 per week in the qualified adult rate, which brings the payment to such persons to €200 per week. This represents 94% of the target figure which it is hoped will be achieved in full next year. The term, "Qualified adult rate" should be abolished as it is perceived as being anti-woman. An individualisation of the pensions system should be implemented so that all adults are afforded a full independent pension provision in their own right.