Abuse deal and cutbacks a double blow

THE blatant shortcomings of the Coalition’s kid-glove deal with the Church on compensation for victims of clerical abuse take on sharp focus against the backdrop of harsh cutbacks hitting elderly, disabled and jobless people across the country.

As the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee yesterday began investigating the Government’s mishandling of the Church-State deal, elderly people were deprived of home help services because of a 50% subsidy cut to achieve paltry savings of a few euro.

The Coalition is also slashing spending on suicide research and prevention programmes. Given Ireland’s high incidence of suicide, it is reprehensible that these life-saving grants should be cut.