Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in wishing everyone a happy Christmas, including the staff, the Cathaoirleach and all Members. Regarding 2015, I hope we will not have to go through the process of an election until 2016.
One of the issues that has come home to me in the debate on the water charges is the lack of information out there on the cost of running services in Ireland as evidenced in emails to me and replies to my replies. I am sure colleagues have received similar correspondence. I have raised the matter previously in relation to local authorities and the amount in commercial rates being collected from the private sector. There is a lack of knowledge among the general public of the amounts being demanded from the private sector. One of the issues that really amazes me is the lack of knowledge people have in relation to the cost of social welfare, health care and education. There was a letter to the Irish Examinerin the last week comparing the current state of Ireland to its state in 1847. That sends a very negative message about the country.
Despite the difficulties we have gone through over the past four to five years, we still pay out more than €400 million a week in social welfare payments. That includes payments to 585,000 people in receipt of the old age pension, people who are unemployed and people with disabilities. It is only right that we should be paying that and it is unfortunate that we have not had an increase in that area over the last four to five years. While we will hopefully be able to provide for increases as the economy recovers, we should have a debate on how proper information is circulated, in particular to young people going through the education system. It might be done through a transition year programme or another way in the schools given the lack of knowledge that is there. We have a duty to ensure that we not only provide services, but get information out as to their cost.