The programme for Government commits to targeted improvements in welfare payments for the elderly, people with disabilities, the sick and carers, among others. Information recently received by Sinn Féin indicates that at the end of September, waiting lists for people in receipt of social welfare have increased across the board. For example, the wait for carer's allowance has increased from 19 weeks at the end of June to 40 weeks at the end of September. The wait for the non-contributory State pension has gone to 19 weeks and the wait for disability allowance has gone to 21 weeks. What measures are being taken by the Government and the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, to tackle these escalating and grossly out of control waiting times for the most needy?

The Minister will be dealing with the social welfare Bill in this House shortly. More than €300 million was committed in the budget to improvements in social welfare and we have seen the first increases since 2009. It is a mark of the commitment.

What about waiting times?

I will bring what the Deputy has said on waiting times to the attention of the relevant Minister.

There is a strong commitment in the programme for Government, delivered on in the budget, to improve the financial situation of those receiving social welfare payments.

Waiting times are escalating, however.