HALF-RATE FOR CARERS:MINISTER FOR Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin denied she had suggested a cut in the the half-rate for carers during sharp exchanges with the Opposition.

Fine Gael spokeswoman Olwyn Enright, who said they had been waiting since December 2007 for the publication of a national carers' strategy which was part of the programme for government.

Ms Hanafin said she never said she was going to cut the half-rate for carers. "The Minister said she was looking at it," said Ms Enright. Ms Hanafin replied: "Nobody ever indicated that I was going to cut it. I never said it was under consideration." Labour spokeswoman Róisín Shortall said: "The Minister said it was a target."

Ms Hanafin said she had specifically said in a newspaper article she would not be recommending a change to the allowance.

"A week after her original order," said Ms Enright.

Ms Hanafin said if Ms Enright cared to read the interview, she would see Ms Hanafin had said she would not be recommending it. "It arose in the context of a question about major improvements that had been made in the past five years, which led to the social welfare budget now hitting almost €20 billion. I pointed to the fact that there had been major increases in pensions, as well as changes to the hours lone parents can work, major increases in child benefit and the introduction of the new half-rate carers' scheme."