Hanafin to hold budget talks with voluntary groups
The Minister for Social and Family Affairs is holding a pre-budget summit with community and voluntary groups today.
Mary Hanafin will hear submissions from groups including the Senior Citizens Parliament, the St Vincent de Paul, Barnardos and the Organisation of the Unemployed.
They are likely to call for no cuts in supports for the most vulnerable people in society as part of this December's budget.
The Government has repeatedly claimed that vulnerable groups will not be targeted as part of measures to restore balance to the public finances.
However, the Minister for Finance is understood to be seriously considering a reduction in social welfare rates as part of a €4bn package of cutbacks.
