Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators on all sides of the House who contributed to the debate, particularly those who put forward useful proposals. This is the third successive budget in which the Government has protected all weekly primary welfare rates. I have met extensively, on a weekly basis from April onwards, with organisations advocating on behalf of older people, carers, people with disabilities and so on. Their number one priority, as they laid it out to me, was that weekly rates be retained. Perhaps that will come as a surprise to some Members. I was somewhat surprised to discover that the second priority, particularly for older people, was the free travel provision. Third on the priority list was support in respect of heating and fuel costs. I did my best, in the context of my discussions with the representative groups and with people on all sides of this House and the Dáil, to reflect those priorities in the decisions I had to make. Accordingly, we have protected the provisions that were identified as priorities.

I emphasise to Fianna Fáil Party Members that there is no change, in Donegal or anywhere else, in regard to welfare supports for young people aged 18 to 21. In fact, the change for that age group was introduced by Fianna Fáil in government. Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill was a Member of this House when the then Government introduced it. Moreover, that Government reduced the weekly rates for people with disabilities and others by more than €16 per week.