Simon Harris rules out coalition split over social welfare and pension increases

Tánaiste says government remains united on welfare increases, insisting child poverty must be prioritised in upcoming Budget talks

Taoiseach Micheál Martin (right) and Tánaiste Simon Harris. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

There are no coalition tensions over splitting the rate of increases for jobseekers and pensioners, the Tánaiste has said.

Simon Harris earlier this year said there is “merit” in unemployment benefit not rising at the same rate as other welfare payments such as pensions. 

That idea was rejected by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said he did not categorise people on welfare by group.

Speaking in New York on Tuesday, Mr Harris said the Budget would focus on child poverty and that "there's lots and lots of measures that you can take to tackle child poverty".

"We've got to take child poverty extraordinarily seriously. We need to do a lot more around child poverty.

"I think we can deliver a budget that really prioritises child poverty."

However, Mr Harris stressed he is “not convinced” a universal rise in payments is the solution.

"I'm not looking to get into kind of a back and forth," Mr Harris said. 

"But I'm not entirely convinced that across the board universal increases is how you best advance policy. You try to look at different measures at a time of full employment, when we have lots of supports available for people who cannot work, I think it certainly merits consideration, because it allows us better target our resources.

"But this will, this will come down to a logical, rational conversation about there will be X amount available to spend on social welfare. 

"Where do we best place that to advance the policies and priorities of government around carers, people with disabilities, supporting older people, attacking child poverty, and if you just adopt this approach, it's the same for every group, that's not targeted. It's not targeted at all. It's the opposite targeted."

The issue was raised in media reports ahead of last year’s Budget, but Mr Martin said earlier this year it had not featured in coalition discussions. 

Asked if he would raise it with the Taoiseach ahead of this year’s Budget in a fortnight, Mr Harris said the two “are in very regular contact on all aspects” of Budget planning.

"I don't detect any tensions in government. This is something we will work our way through, but it does merit a logical, rational conversation. When we're talking the talk of targeting, this is the opposite of targeting, it seems everybody the exact same level."

The Irish Examiner understands that there will be a push for €12-a-week increases across the board in the Budget.

There is still an ambition to deliver a €50 increase in weekly rates before the end of the Government’s term in 2029.

However, Fianna Fáil is expected to push back against Fine Gael’s desire to implement different increases for social protection and pension rates.