Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There have been reductions and it has been hard on some, but the Minister has managed to make payments and to maintain the State pension, the carer's allowance, the disability allowance and the core weekly payments on which people depend. Crucially, supplementary supports for pensioners, including the fuel allowance for gas and electricity, free travel, the half-rate carer's allowance and the respite grant, have been protected. I realise everything that has been cut has been difficult to cut, but they cannot all be protected. I imagine sleepless nights were involved in finding where the cuts would be made.

The best way to save money is to ensure people have a job. We have seen a reduction of 20,000 in the past year in the number on the live register. It will fall below 400,000 shortly for the first time since May 2009. That is still far too high but progress is being made. With more people at work, the social welfare bill will be reduced and savings will be made.

Next year, the Department of Social Protection will spend €1.8 billion on work, training and education places, an increase of almost €85 million. This is a vast increase. It was an achievement to find any area where funding could be increased in these stringent circumstances. That is a plus and it should be highlighted. A great deal of training is on offer.