Hanafin frees up funds for bigger dole queues

SOCIAL and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin last night outlined plans for savings of e300 million this year and €400m in 2010 with the tightening of certain benefits set to free up funds for the growing number of people on the dole.

Social welfare expenditure for this year is set to reach e21.3 billion, with Ms Hanafin admitting that as many as 440,000 could be on the Live Register by the end of the year.

Aside from the controversial changes to childcare benefit and jobseekers’ allowance for under-20s and the axing of the Christmas bonus to social welfare recipients, the main measures outlined in yesterday’s emergency budget were: