Government ‘softening people up’ for welfare cuts

THE Government was accused of “softening people up” for cuts in dole and other social welfare payments by leaking details of finance plans to yesterday’s Sunday newspapers.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen, said yesterday that the cabinet has not made any decisions on social welfare spending plans for the next budget, planned later in the year.

But his Government was accused of a deliberate public relations strategy after a number of newspapers quoted senior sources indicating that dole and other welfare payments are too high and will be cut next year.