Cowen: Welfare cuts were announced months ago

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said today that pending cuts to certain social welfare payments were already announced months ago by Minister Mary Hanafin.

Trade union leaders today described the plan to cut Lone Parent's Allowance once a child has reached the age of 13 as "reprehensible beyond belief".

The measure was one of several changes outlined in the Social Welfare Bill last night, to be phased in over the next six years.

But Mr Cowen said the move was flagged before the Government reshuffle.

"It's simply giving legislative effect to a Government announcement," he said.

"It's about trying to reduce dependency. It's about trying to provide opportunities for people who would otherwise find themselves locked into the welfare system."

Under the proposed Bill unemployed people will also be disqualified from collecting Jobseeker's Allowance if they refuse an offer of suitable employment.

Minister for Social Protection Eamon Ó Cúiv said the measures are justifiable.

"Everybody who is in contact with unemployed people around the country will testify to the fact that every day they are begging for work schemes, they are begging to go on training courses, to go back to education - all of these things.

"And on the other hand if there are people out there drawing Jobseeker's Allowance who are not available for work, I think the simple answer is we should make the saving there and plough it into those who want to better themselves and get back to work."

Fine Gael TD and Spokesperson for Social Protection Olwyn Enright however said the proposed bill has not been thoroughly thought out.

Describing the proposed cut to the Lone Parent Allowance as "blunt and brutal", Deputy Enright said it was as if Minister Ó Cúiv was "ignoring" the real circumstances faced by one-parent families.

"I wonder what kind of real engagement he has had with the groups representing one-parent families," she said.

"Over 80% of them already engage in education, training and work.

"This notion that they are all living on the State is nonsense."