Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his priorities for social welfare in the context of budget 2006 and the Social Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37213/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The 2006 Estimates for social welfare spending were published on 17 November last and represented the cost of implementing existing levels of service in the various programmes and services provided by my Department and its agencies.

Normally, improvements in social welfare schemes and services are introduced by way of the budget. In that regard, I will be developing budget proposals on the various issues in my area of responsibility, having regard to a wide range of factors.

My budget themes are child poverty, pensions, carers and lone parents. Proposals covering those areas have been developed taking account of the views expressed at the recent pre-budget forum, at which 31 welfare organisations were represented and pre-budget submissions made to me by those and other organisations and individuals.

Immediately following budget day, I will bring forward a Social Welfare Bill to provide for any increases in the weekly payment rates and any changes to the PRSI provisions or other amendments that would be scheduled to come into effect from January 2006.

Budget 2006 provisions requiring legislative basis and scheduled to take effect later in 2006, and any other non-budget-related legislative amendments will be provided for under a second Bill, which should have advanced through the Oireachtas by early 2006.