Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are three measures I want to mention out of the many there are to talk about and welcome. Householders throughout the country know the budget that has been delivered puts money back in people's pockets. It is as simple as that. The three areas I will focus on relate to carers, pensioners and childcare.

Carers will very much welcome the announcement of a direct payment to them of €500. This is to recognise the increased costs family carers face and the work they do. Catherine Cox and the team at Family Carers Ireland have done impressive work on this.

A lot is being done to protect pensioners during the winter period. One of the fears we have is that pensioners may be too scared to put on the heating. We do not want them to be in that position, which is why the budget includes one-off payments for them in November and bonus payments at Christmas. There is particular recognition for pensioners living alone. The living alone lump sum of €200 is a really welcome payment because it recognises paying bills is much harder for a person living along than it is for a couple. I think pensioners will be really happy tonight. They understand budgets because they have seen a lot of them. They know good budgets and bad budgets. This is a good budget for pensioners and they know that.

At the other end of the age spectrum are children. The Government made a commitment two years ago, led by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to make radical changes to the cost of childcare. Every parent is going to bed tonight knowing there will be a reduction in the cost of childcare of €1,200 a year, with a promise of a further reduction next year. The people I have spoken to cannot believe the size of the reduction this year, with a promise of a further cut next year. It is a radical step that has been well pushed for by all of us in government. It certainly has been welcomed by the parents to whom I have been speaking in the past few hours.