Coalition passes test with ease as cuts approved

The Government comfortably survived one of its biggest tests yet, as TDs last night approved the first crucial stages of the coalition’s welfare budget cuts in the Dáil.

The second stage of the Social Welfare Bill was carried by 87 votes to 52, and its amendments will be debated today.

Ahead of the vote, just a handful of coalition TDs appealed to ministers to review or roll back on cuts to the vulnerable and reductions in the respite carers grants. Some Fine Gael TDs called for the 19% grant cut to be abandoned or for carers to be afforded a meeting with ministers.