Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My contribution will be quite short because many of my points have been made. I am glad there is a general welcome for many of the provisions in the Bill, particularly in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. I compliment the Minister, whom I have known for a long time, including through my radio work. She takes on board what people say to her. Any suggestions we have will certainly get a fair hearing. I know this from my experience in the entertainment sector in particular. People in that sector have asked me to thank the Minister for taking on board every point they made. She has made a very welcome taxation change recently about which the sector is very happy.

Most Senators have spoken about the welfare package and various aspects of it. Some referred to the living alone allowance. We are aware that people receiving that allowance, who are mainly pensioners and people with disabilities, will receive their increase. That is very important.

The provision relating to the islands shows that the three parties in government, namely, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, have an all-island approach, encompassing all people in all sectors. The very fact that we have increased the island allowance is important. There are 600 people living on offshore islands. That is a significant number. The allowance will be very well received.

I will refer to one or two more issues before I conclude, the first being the removal of the earning limit in respect of the one-parent family payment. Currently, when a lone parent's earnings exceed €425 per week, the entitlement to the one-parent family payment is lost.The change in the Bill, which is very good, is very welcome. At times, quite a number of one-parent families struggle and we should remember that. I am not one of these people who goes to criticise them. Many of them have tried very hard to do the best for their children in challenging circumstances. This is the type of measure I like to see dealt with and I welcome it very much.

The increase in the carer's support grant has been spoken about by many people. It is fair to say we always really need to be making improvements for carers. This has been mentioned by many people and I welcome the change the Minister has made and the increase provided for by the Government. It is important that we look after such vulnerable people.

The previous speaker made a very good point about the fuel allowance. I will write to the Minister about other suggestions I have on the fuel allowance, to which we might be able to make changes. This would be important because a complaint I probably get most is from people who feel they should get that particular allowance but do not because of the current regulations. All I ask is that when I write to the Minister she will take a look at it. I know she will.

In general, this has been a very good package in difficult and challenging times and I commend the Minister. The way the staff have dealt with the thousands upon thousands of representations from Oireachtas Members and local authority members has been extraordinary. I want to express my thanks again to the Minister and her staff for doing this. As did previous speakers, I also did so at committee. The staff have been a major help. For many of the people with queries the situation was simplified for them by staff and that is really appreciated. Sometimes in social welfare it is a case of us and them but what has happened in recent months in particular is that staff have more than stepped up to the mark with this level of co-operation. Quite a number of members of the public have mentioned to me how easy it was to deal with the staff. I have found them to be absolutely extraordinarily caring and helpful in doing everything they could to sort out issues for people. I thank the Minister and the Cathaoirleach.