John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and his colleagues for their work on budget 2024. As I said in the previous debate, the fact that only three Opposition Members have spoken in the House this evening is testament to the fact that the Government has clearly put significant measures in place to be able to assist the public with the cost-of-living pressures they face.

The budget is framed with a series of universal measures as well as targeted supports for the most vulnerable, none more so than the €12 increase for pensioners, carers and those with a disability. We are introducing €2.3 billion in a cost-of-living support package that has a series of lump sum payments in addition to the weekly increases we are seeing across the board. These include the €400 lump sum in the working family payment, which rewards those lower income families who go out to work and work hard every day of the week; the €400 lump sum for carers, those on a disability payment and those on an invalidity pension; the €200 lump sum for those on the living alone allowance, taking account of the fact that it costs the same amount to run a home regardless of whether there are one or two people living in it; the €100 lump sum for every child; and the €300 lump sum for those on the fuel allowance, which commenced a couple of weeks ago. There were also universal supports to help people across the board such as the €450 in three €150 sums in respect of the electricity credit and the double child benefit payment before Christmas. All of these measures are being introduced by the Government to assist those who need it most and those in the middle, who often do not get the benefit of many of the measures that have been implemented.

I welcome the reductions that have been flagged for childcare fees and I commend the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on that. On the move towards paying nine weeks of parent's benefit, we have moved that payment from zero a number of years ago to nine weeks, alongside parental leave and paternity leave. This is a step change in how we treat families with children. Child benefit is being extended to 18-year-olds in full-time education, an issue that is often raised by families who feel they miss out on that even though they have even higher costs in reality for those children who are still in education.

The provision of free secondary school books up to junior cycle is a really welcome measure. As a former teacher, it is a very welcome move, which builds on the progress we made with primary schools last year. The expansion of hot school meals to a further 900 schools is a welcome move. Physical education was my subject. Ensuring children have nutritious meals in school certainly assists them not only in being well fed but also helps them concentrate on their education and not have to worry about the food they are taking into their bodies. It really helps. There is a lot of research that supports that view. I also welcome the reduction in college fees.

I have barely touched the surface of a host of areas. I commend the Minister of State and his colleagues on their work and I commend today's budget.