CORI Justice: No justification for reducing welfare

CORI Justice today called on the Government not to reduce social welfare in next week's Budget, saying that there is "no justification whatsoever" for the move.

More than half of all those at risk of poverty in Ireland today (55.9%) live in households headed by a person who is outside the labour force (i.e people who are older or ill, or have a serious disability or are in caring roles), the group pointed out.

"These are Ireland's most vulnerable people and they depend completely on social welfare payments for survival," according to Dr Seán Healy, SMA director of CORI Justice.

"Under no circumstances is it acceptable that their situation be worsened by reductions in social welfare."

CORI Justice went on to state that despite the fact that the Consumer Price Index has been falling much of this reduction is driven by the fall in interest rates and other items from which most welfare recipients do not benefit.

"An alternative to the present dominant view of the world and how it should function is required," said Healy. "We need to move from a world that is built on individualism, anxiety and greed to a world that is built on the reality of abundance, the need for generosity, the dignity of the person and the centrality of the common good."