Ray Butler (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Budget 2017 is fair and prudent and it contains modest increases for everybody. Recovery benefits all, there is a new deal for the self-employed and it makes work pay. The pensioners have received a modest increase of €5 in their pensions but the Minister did not forget them. There has been a €5 increase in benefits for all people under 66 years. Some 840,000 people will gain from the increase in invalidity pensions, disability allowance, blind pensions and many more allowances.

The self-employed will now receive dental benefits, hearing benefits, optical benefits and at least 205,000 workers will now be eligible for an invalidity pension. The self-employed will receive a tax credit increase but no PRSI increase. This is the first time in the history of the State that self-employed people have been recognised through social protection. It is a huge issue. Like education, health and so many areas we have not gone far enough but we did what we could with the little we had.

I was delighted to hear the Minister's following comment here today and shall read it into the record. He said: "I intend to continue to extend the benefits available to self-employed persons through the social protection system and will look at further options in the coming year." I thank our partners in government who have put this aim in the programme for Government. In fairness to the Labour Party and Deputy Joan Burton, they campaigned for this issue during the five years we were in government together. I am delighted that 400,000 people will get some cover. We are moving forward and we want young entrepreneurs to take a chance. God forbid that anything happens to them, either they suffer invalidity or get sick and are out of work, we will back them to get back up on their feet and to move forward.

I was delighted to hear of the changes in the class K stamp which is welcome. It is a huge issue for local councillors and the change cannot happen quick enough.

In terms of treatment benefit, a range of dental and optical benefits have been restored that will benefit 2.5 million people. Lone parents will receive a €5 weekly increase. In addition, the disregard has been increased from €90 to €110 and will benefit 17,500 people. A new €500 cost of education allowance and a single child care scheme have been introduced.

Budget 2017 has focused on children with a child care package, medical cards and education. In terms of school meals, as many as 52,800 additional places have been created and 35,000 breakfast places for non-DEIS schools have been created.We have all seen how they worked in all areas where they have been a considerable success. It is great to see extra money in that regard. There was a €15 weekly increase in guardian's payment.

In rural areas the cuts to farm assist were reversed. There are 17,800 beneficiaries of the scheme. I also welcome the 500 additional places on the rural social scheme. In addition, I welcome the PRSI reforms farmers have long sought.

Young jobseekers have had the full rate of the back to education allowance restored. I also welcome the reduced rent contribution for those on jobseeker's benefit, community employment, CE, schemes, and those on Tús schemes. Other measures include the provision of an extra €1 million for the community service programme bringing it to a total of €46 million. That is to be welcomed. We have all seen how successful community services have been in terms of improving the lives of those in the community in all rural towns and villages.

I welcome the extension of the carer's allowance and the access to the back to work enterprise allowance in nine months rather than 12 months, as well as the €15 per week increase for guardian's payment. We will all welcome the full restoration of the Christmas bonus when that happens but the restoration of 85% of it is welcome. The bonus will be paid to 1.2 million people from 28 November.

Since the budget there has been no backlash on the social protection budget, which is to be commended and welcomed. It is a far cry from 2011 when I came into this House and the cuts we had to make following the collapse of the country on foot of what the previous Government did. We must not forget that. We had to make decisions, some of which were good and others which were bad, in order to get this country back on its feet. Now we are reversing any of the cuts that we felt were wrong. I agree with the point that was made by a previous speaker that we should reconsider the cut to the telephone allowance. The saving in that regard was a paltry €3 million to €4 million. It was ridiculous. It was the one big issue that was raised in my constituency office. We should examine the issue and reverse the cut. We all know there are areas on which we can improve and as the economy grows and according as people go back to work we can help the most vulnerable in society.

I welcome the Social Welfare Bill.