Hanafin ‘patting herself on the back’ over welfare figures

MINISTER Mary Hanafin was accused of being more interested in self-congratulation than the thousands of people joining the dole queue after claiming a report revealing a massive rise in social welfare spending showed the Government’s “commitment to caring and supporting its citizens”.

Dole payments rose from €1.4 billion in 2007 to €2bn in 2008, according to the report, which shows a massive 25% rise in people getting financial support from the State.

At least 1.8 million people were on welfare in 2008 – a rise from 1.2 million in 2007, according to the Information on Social Welfare Services for 2008. This includes children’s allowance, the State pension and the 236,000 on the dole last year.