Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

It will be important for the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, to appear in the House as soon as possible. By all accounts, we face a tough budget and one is told that €1 billion is likely to be cut from the social welfare budget. It is important that this House debate that budget before decisions are finally made. Right across the board, Members should have an opportunity to make proposals on where savings could be made for the good of the country and its citizens. This would be a general debate and while I do not believe it has been called for in the House previously, I am sure many Members would have interesting proposals to make. For example, considerable savings could be made in the social welfare budget by investing in a free book rental scheme for schools. However, Members must examine the details of such proposals. In addition, this morning I was interested to note the ESRI had published a study demonstrating that people were not better off while in receipt of social welfare benefits, despite what it is often said.