Independent TDs urged to vote down welfare cuts

SIX Independent TDs have been urged to vote down a series of controversial social welfare cuts before they are passed by the Dáil this evening.

In a last-minute plea to Jackie Healy-Rae, Michael Lowry, Noel Grealish, Jim McDaid, Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon, the Carers Association and disability group Inclusion Ireland have said imposing the changes will devastate lives.

“We’ve been getting calls all day from carers who are facing a 4% cut in their allowance, a 2% cut in the Christmas bonus, and other sneakier cuts.

“For some of them that’s going to cost more than €1,000 a year. There needs to be some discussion on how serious that’s going to be,” Carers Association spokesperson Catherine Cox explained.

The comment was echoed by Inclusion Ireland, who urged TDs to reject the cuts outlined in the budget as they would force those already suffering with disabilities further into the margins. While Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said the budget cutbacks were unavoidable, it has been heavily criticised for the apparent focus on vulnerable sections of society.

Under the budget plans, child benefit rates will be cut by between €16 and €128.

In addition:

* The single parent family payment will be reduced from €204.30 to €196 per week.

* The carers allowance for those under the age of 66 from €220.50 to €212 per week.

* The deserted wife’s benefit for the same age group from €209.80 to €201.50 per week.

* And the jobseekers allowance from €204.30 to €196 per week.

The jobseekers allowance for new entrants aged between 20 and 21 will also be cut from €204.30 to just €100 – representing a 54% drop in income.

The criticism of the budget plans was repeated by opposition members yesterday, with Labour leader Eamon Gilmore alleging the social welfare changes were being rushed through to ensure none of the Government TDs “wobble over the weekend when they meet constituents”.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny described the social welfare plan as one of gross, unwarranted unfairness which was being “bulldozed” through, while Sinn Féin’s Caoimghín O Caoláin said it was a recipe for emigration.

However, despite the criticism Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin insisted the changes were a necessary step for economic stability to be achieved.

She added that recent increases in social welfare rates of between 129% and 147% have been given over the past decade.