John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the lump sum payments that are commencing this week as part of budget 2024. As the Leader knows, that budget was aimed at putting money back in people's pockets. It contained a whole host of universal measures as well as targeted supports for the most vulnerable. This week, there will be a €400 payment to anyone in receipt of the working family payment, which will support lower income families who are out there working hard across our economy. We will also have a €300 lump sum for those in receipt of the fuel allowance. As the Leader knows, we extended the criteria for the fuel allowance in January of this year to another approximately 70,000 individuals and couples. There are still people who have not availed of that fuel allowance as they probably still think they are above a threshold because they applied previously, whereas that is not the case anymore. All of them, however, will be in receipt of the additional payment this week. In addition, those in receipt of the disability blind pension and invalidity pension will get a disability support grant. Next week, there will be additional payments to those on carer's allowance and those in receipt of the living alone allowance. There will also be a double child benefit payment in the run-up to Christmas on the first week in December. These are very important measures.It was put to me on the radio this morning as to whether we should be giving people additional child benefit payments when they do not need them. My answer to that is simply that this Government and this country is moving more towards a universal support payment where a person gets back what he or she puts into the system. We see that with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, now moving towards jobseeker's benefit being linked to a person's previous income, the roll-out of universal healthcare and free GP care for those aged under eight as well as child benefit payments. It is, therefore, a different way of looking at the social protection system. It is about supporting those people who are paying their taxes while also targeting the most vulnerable here with increases in payments and lump sum payments across the board. I commend the budget once again on the floor of the Seanad this afternoon. I really look forward to those people who need it most receiving payments in the coming weeks.