Anger over reform of welfare payments

ANGER was growing among support groups yesterday at the Government’s planned reform of the One Parent Family Payment that would see it scrapped when the youngest child reaches 13.

The National Women’s Council said the proposals contained in the Social Welfare Bill, published without fanfare on Friday evening, would create “a generation of latch-key kids”, while Fine Gael said the Bill broke a series of promises and offered little alternative to those who may be affected.

Social Protection Minister Éamon O Cuív, interviewed on RTÉ’s This Week programme, defended the Bill, claiming he wanted to encourage people back to work.