Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not really possible to follow that. We have had a fantastic debate and education today on where the money is being spent. We have heard many great ideas about how we could spend it more usefully in future. I hope we have started a further conversation with the Minister on how we might address much of the inequity in the social welfare system. There is no doubt that the way we dispense funding within the social welfare budget is inequitable and unfair in many instances. There is no doubt that in the case of the carer's respite grant some are not getting enough but there are many people who are getting more than they should.

Senator Moloney made a fantastic suggestion. The carer's grant is being dropped by ¤325. I put it to the Minister, Deputy Burton, that in some way between now and the coming six months she should see how ¤325 worth of care could be provided through community employment schemes or through the carers' associations or the various community organisations operating so effectively in the country. If the Minister did this she would be doing a great service. The people involved would continue to hold on to the ¤1,350 they have but they would get ¤325 worth of care in the community as well. If the Minister could give an indication that she would look favourably on that I suggest we would all be happy to support this measure in the budget. It would bring fairness and equity into the system.