WITH services for the elderly being curtailed or cut, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has been called on to join forces with Social Inclusion Minister Joan Burton and introduce a community service “pay-back year” for third-level students.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has told people his cuts programme will hurt but would not wipe out the positive changes of the Celtic Tiger years.

VOTERS are set for a second bumper election day in two years with the Government signalling its desire to run at least four separate ballots together later this year.

A €6 million language centre, opened yesterday at the University of Limerick, is being aimed at attracting more students from abroad as well as helping undergraduates who plan to embark on business careers in the export market.

A FEARED slashing of child benefit rates in the budget would amount to “cruelty” and increase poverty, Brian Cowen was last night warned.

MOVES to shore up recession-ravaged pension schemes were dismissed as inadequate last night as unions warned the elderly faced a life of “penury”.

Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin says the Exchequer will make up any deficit that may arise in the social insurance fund.

FIANNA FÁIL should not beat itself up for pursing policies which have contributed to the recession, according to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.

Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin says she believes Irish voters are changing their mind on the Lisbon treaty.

FORGET the strings of outdoor lighting, the giant light-up sleighs and the flashing Santas this Christmas if they’re likely to result in hefty bills in January.

CUTBACKS across other Government departments will be needed if social welfare payments are to be maintained throughout the recession, it was admitted last night.

WATERFORD received a much-needed employment boost yesterday when a pharmaceuticals company announced it will be creating 165 jobs over the next five years.

THE problem of homelessness may be much worse than official statistics have shown in the past, a conference heard this week, with more social housing needed to help combat the crisis.

A TOTAL of 12,000 low-income people ran up debts of a staggering €76 million last year.

After the very costly computer systems fiascoes involving e-voting and PPARS (the payroll and human resource system for the health service), and the controversial garda PULSE system (used to record offences), the latest one to be exposed concerns the Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers.

Family resource centres are now the main vehicle for delivering community development and family support, according to the Family Resource Centre National Forum.

ALMOST half a million working women have no private pensions to support them in their future years, it emerged yesterday.

More than 21,000 low-income families are to get extra social welfare cash in 2006 in a bid to tackle child poverty, it emerged today.

MORE THAN 10,000 letters were delivered to the door of Finance Minister Brian Cowen yesterday in a campaign to end discrimination against women in the social welfare system.

SURELY no one believes that the noises made recently by Social and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan will actually help men to secure a family life and help them the better to protect their children.

Ireland's only sign language interpreting service is facing closure if it cannot secure the funding it needs to ensure its future.

Tens of thousands of commuters struggled to get to work in Paris for a second day today as a huge public sector strike brought trains and the underground to a near standstill.

Fianna Fail is pledging to raise the old age pension to €200 a week if returned to power.