I have dealt with the issue of councillors' pay raised by Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor.

Senators Ray Butler, Paddy Burke and James Reilly raised the very important issue of rates in our local towns, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. I agree with Senator Paddy Burke, in particular, that there is a need for the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Finance, with the banks, to come up with a way to get extra money and credit for those businesses that require investment and flexibility in seeking capital. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, will be in the House next week to hear statements on the summer economic statement and I hope this very important issue can form part of that debate.

Senator Maura Hopkins referred to the N5 in County Roscommon. It is a very important issue, not least because it relates to public health and safety, which comes within the remit of Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I will be happy to ask the Minister to address it.

Senator Paul Gavan raised the issue of poverty in which context he referred to the report of Social Justice Ireland. The record shows that the country is moving forward. The previous Government which included the Labour Party twice increased the national minimum wage and there are now more people back at work. There is also more optimism about our balance of pay and GDP rate which is the fastest growing in the European Union-----

From where did the extra 100,000 people living in poverty come?