This is the day after the budget. This year's budget was a very different budget because it had to be. It had to be a budget that reached out and supported people not just in 2023, but now. Some of the measures announced are extremely welcome and are needed. I acknowledge the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, for the work she did in securing not just increases to the old age pension and welfare payments in general but also for the once-off payments that are needed this month, next month, at Christmas and going forward into next year.

In education, the announcement of free schoolbooks is particularly significant because this country has been an outlier when it comes to access to and availability of books. Parents in most other countries do not have to buy books. In those countries, the books are provided by the state and are the property of the school. I hope the books that will be provided will also be free to people who have print disabilities. I hope that books in Braille will be free and that there will be access to books in digital form, because that is also important.

Some of the transport measures are welcome, particularly the confirmation from the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, that Shannon Airport will be able to apply for the regional airport support fund. This fund has been critical in recent years during Covid.

In health, it is great that there will finally be no hospital charges for anyone. This measure will help the people of middle Ireland - those who do not qualify for medical cards and who fall into the category of the squeezed middle. When they go to hospital, or their child does, they will not have to pay the daily charge of €80. That will help such people. Access to free contraception for ladies under 30 years of age is also important. As the GP visit card situation will be challenging for the medical profession, clarification is needed in terms of what supports will be provided to them.

Overall, it is a budget for these times. It is a budget like no other, but it is a budget that was needed. It will help struggling families.

It is important that we deal with facts in the context of the budget. Sometimes the whole role of carers is thrown about by a minority of politicians who use it to exploit their situation politically. We need to take a long look at what this budget has done for carers.

There will be a cost-of-living double payment to carers in October. A cost-of-living lump sum of €500 for people getting the carer's support grant will be paid in November. It will also be paid to people in receipt of disability allowance, the blind pension, the invalidity pension and working farm payments. It should be noted that one grant will be paid per carer, regardless of how many people the carer cares for. Carers will also get a Christmas bonus of a double payment in early December. From January 2023, there will be a €12 increase in the maximum rate of carer’s allowance, bringing it up to €236, and carer's benefit, up to €237. Proportionate increases will apply to those getting a reduced rate.

Domiciliary care allowance will increase by €20.50, to €330 per month, with effect from January 2023. This allowance will be available in respect of children with severe illness or disability who remain in hospital for up to six months after birth. Qualified child payment weekly rates will increase by €2 in January 2023, bringing them to €50 for over-12s.

There will be a new means test disregard for fuel allowance for people aged 70 years, and the means assessment threshold for fuel allowance will increase from €120 to €200 with effect from January 2023. Half-rate carer’s allowance will be disregarded in the means assessment for fuel allowance from January 2023.

I have not mentioned the electricity credits or other fuel allowance payments. I want to put on record of this House that this is a massive budget for carers. People from Ahascragh, Strokestown and Roosky rang me this morning - I did not ring them - to say that this will bring a massive improvement to the lot of carers. Let us put it on the record that Government Members, members of my own party and my Senator group have been working consistently on this to make it happen for carers. It has not achieved everything, but it has achieved a lot and we will achieve more for them in the years ahead. Let us put this on the record and let us keep it straight.

Iarraim ar an gcéad cainteoir eile, an Seanadóir Dolan, atá as an Dáilcheantar céanna.