Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator.

I also welcome the progress in adequately recognising and rewarding the work of the thousands of carers throughout the State. Their sacrifice and dedication ensures that their loved ones can remain in their own homes. Their work is done out of love and we must ensure they are supported in every way.

I welcome the commitment to improve their lot further by way of the carer's strategy contained in the programme for Government. I refer to issues such as access to respite and education and training which it is hoped will be contained in the report which is due to be published by next summer. We must drive on with this issue because carers are waiting for progress and I note the Government's commitment to achieve it.

The weekly income disregard for carers is increased in the Bill by €12.50 per week, or €25 for a couple, to €665. It is important to make the public aware that a couple can now earn more than €34,500 per annum and still qualify for the carer's allowance under the means test. Several people have told me they were unsure whether they would qualify for the allowance. In many cases, however, their income is such that it meets the qualification criteria.

We must continue to highlight the improvements in the income thresholds and disregards. One of the key Government commitments in the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, is the development of a national carers' strategy. I welcome the progress in this regard and look forward to its expected completion next summer.

I also welcome the greater emphasis being placed by the Department on encouraging and facilitating people to move away from dependence on welfare towards participation in the workforce. The Minister's announcement of a revamped family support programme with a budget of €6.5 million in 2008 is a significant initiative. This will provide funding for projects run by third parties to assist welfare recipients and family members to enhance their chances of employment through education, training and personal development. The Minister has also provided for the deployment of an additional 30 facilitators with clerical support staff to further the work in this area.

These programmes will complement the schemes already in place, including the back to education and back to work allowances. There is a role for everybody in the workforce. People of working age who are physically capable of work should be required to make some practical contribution to their local community. This will afford immense benefits for themselves in terms of self-esteem and will also benefit their communities.

I welcome the improvements in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, and the increase in the widowed parent grant from €2,000 to €6,000. This is an overdue improvement for which I commend the Minister.

I have memories of other budgets, under other Governments, where benefits to social welfare recipients were less than generous and often unsatisfactory. Since Fianna Fáil entered Government in 1997, it has introduced significant incremental changes and benefits for those who need them most.

Throughout the recent period of unprecedented growth in the economy, social welfare payments and the associated thresholds and entitlements have increased on an annual basis. I cannot claim that this will always be the case. We live in a global economy and this will dictate our future growth. In the current economic circumstances, the substantial rate of increase of recent years has to slow down and this has been recognised in the budget. I commend the Minister for the continued progress on this matter.