Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for their contributions. I always find it a pleasure to come to the Seanad for the constructive debate undertaken here. I find it useful and informative.

Several people, including Senator Moloney, remarked on my comment that the increase in child benefit of €5 was modest and rightly so. If there had been a decrease it would have been a massive decrease. Anyway, I recognise that putting €5 back into a mother's pocket or a family's pocket is modest. It is really an acknowledgement that things have started to turn. I, along with all members of the Government, would have preferred for it to be more. That is why we gave a clear indication that if the economic recovery continues as it has to date, there will be an additional €5 in next year's budget announcement. The idea is to put down a marker to people to show things are turning. We want to ensure what is best for the citizen. The word "citizen" is always important and it is not used often enough. The citizens of the country will start to see the benefit and not only in child support benefits.

Senator van Turnhout commented on services. The important thing is the provision of services. It is critical. Several Senators commented on the provision of a second year of preschool. That is important, especially in areas where there is deprivation. The benefits to young people, children and families are important.

I will try to address as many points as I can without keeping Senators in sleeping bags for the night. I will go as quickly as I can. Reference was made to transfer of benefits, in particular the children's allowance. There are international agreements. Senator Mooney was quite right to point out that Irish people also benefit from these transfers. The overall figure given was €11 million, but there are swings and roundabouts in this regard. What is happening in this area in a constructive manner? There is a reflective forum to discuss matters of concern to member states. The issue of the export of child benefits has been placed on the agenda for the forum to discuss in the near future. The matter is being examined. Deputy Mooney raised the matter previously when I was in the House. I hope the Senator will see that notice has been taken and that action and discussions have begun to take place.

Reference was made to poverty and inequality. An ESRI report has shown that because the Government has been able to maintain core benefits, income inequality has been reduced in the State. This is very much about people who have lost out. Higher incomes have come down a little. Anyway, the fact that we have able to maintain core social welfare benefits has been most beneficial to people. This is often remarked elsewhere in Europe. Countries like Portugal, Spain and Greece have been unable to do that. It is something that the Irish Government has been able to do through the sacrifice of its people.

The Tánaiste has been very proactive in respect of welfare fraud. I am unsure whether people noticed last week but reference was made to 20 gardaí being transferred to the investigation unit. While fraud is significant, given the overall budget for social protection it is rather small. The figures include overpayments as well. Anyway, we have a duty to the citizen and the taxpayer to ensure money is spent correctly and that there are no people defrauding the system. After all, at issue is taxpayers' money. Senators rightly acknowledged the work that the Tánaiste has undertaken in this area in recent years. We have seen a significant reduction in this regard.

Senators Zappone referred to vision and reform. Certainly there has been reform. Like Senator Zappone, I believe reform never comes quick enough. It is nearly always too slow for people who are on the political wing of Government. We are always keen for it to take place faster. There are so many problems and there is so little money at the moment. Certainly, we would have been far happier if the economy had turned around a little quicker and we would have been able to invest in services, especially for our young people.

I believe that investment in young people is the way to go. Let us consider the list of priorities. My priority is always young people, older people and pensioners because as the upturn takes place, they may not be here to benefit. This is why the Tánaiste was so keen to increase the children's allowance in this budget and to acknowledge that older people and pensioners have taken quite a knock during this recession. This is why the reinstatement of 25% of the Christmas has been so important.

Reference was made to access to early years education. Senator Zappone is doing fantastic work in An Cosán. In my constituency the area-based childhood, ABC, programme has been working under Professor Bleach. This is a good intervention. We need to consider the expansion of such programmes and make them more accessible to other people, especially in disadvantaged areas. If these schemes are to be rolled out we need to consider areas of disadvantage to be prioritised. Certainly I agree with Senator Zappone in that regard.

Senator Marie Moloney referred to child care places. There has been an increase. I understand 234 have taken up places.