Budget 2012 - Poor must be protected

In its pre-budget submission the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) suggests that welfare fraud is not a major problem, but it supports the measures to tackle it.

The people who are engaging in this kind of fraud may not be among SVP’s main clients.

During the past three years, the number of people calling for SVP’s help has a doubled. It is usually the organisation that provides vital assistance to those who somehow fall between the cracks of our welfare system.

SVP is in closest touch with the people in dire financial straits. These are usually defenceless women and helpless children, who — through no fault of their own — are deprived of the kind of home comforts that most of us take for granted.

These are the people that the Government should be protecting, and it should, therefore, be particularly attentive to SVP’s submission, which makes 50 requests in relation to welfare, work, education, energy, health, housing and homelessness.

Cuts in social welfare assistance and child benefit have had a devastating impact on people already in financial difficulties, and the flat-rate annual household charge, will inevitably hurt the poorest most. It will push them into further poverty and deeper debt.