Government U-turn on social welfare payments

Michael O’Farrell, Political Reporter

The move was immediately welcomed by all Opposition parties who called for the rest of the savage 16 social welfare cuts to be reversed.

The cutback meant that a person in receipt of a widow’s/widower’s pension could no longer claim for unemployment benefits or claim for disability or injury benefits on top of their pension.

Giving a saving of just 5.8m the cut, described as the meanest ever, would have affected 2,000 widows, widowers and lone parents.

Just two weeks ago Minister Coughlan had strongly defended the cut during a Dáil private members’ motion by Labour, Fine Gael and the Green Party which called on the Government to reinstate the half-rate benefit.

Despite a packed gallery full of members of the National Association of Widows and backbench opposition to the cut, the Government voted down the motion at the time.

However, a brief statement from the Department of Social and Family Affairs last night confirmed that, following a review of the situation, a decision had been made to reverse the cut and backdate any payments lost since it was introduced in January.

“My review suggested there may be potential hardship in some cases, and consequently I have decided to fully, retrospectively restore the arrangements that existed before January 19,” said Ms Coughlan.

Fine Gael Social and Family Affairs spokesman Michael Ring last night welcomed the Government’s decision.

“This was an outrageous attack by the Government on a very vulnerable group and it will never be forgotten.

“Perhaps now that the minister has located her sense of justice she could consider reviewing the hardship caused by the other 15 of her savage cuts,” he said.

Labour Social and Family Affairs spokesman Willie Penrose said there were many more people who had been attacked by the Government’s social welfare cuts.

“Minister Coughlan must now reinstate the remaining 15 social welfare cutbacks in the savage 16.

One review is not enough,” he said.

Sinn Féin’s Social and Family Affairs spokesman Sean Crowe welcomed the change of mind but criticised Ms Coughlan.

“That she even contemplated, never mind implemented, such a move shows how out of touch the Government has become,” he said.