Burton defends emergency needs payments cuts after €22m paid out

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton defended cuts to emergency needs payments, revealing that €22m was paid for clothing, religious ceremonies, buggies, and prams in the last two years.

The deputy Labour leader said her department was restricting emergency payments for welfare claimants to €100 for adult clothing and €50 in respect of child clothing.

Ms Burton’s department has announced a restriction of emergency needs payments, which are given to the less well-off for once-off and unforeseen spending needs. This includes a cut for payments for communions and confirmations.