Reports in a national newspaper last week detailing possible cuts in child benefit by the Government, have been criticised by Athlone’s Cllr Austin Berry, who now urges Fianna Fail and the Green party not to implement such cuts, which he said would attack the very poor in our society.
“The headlines last week sent alarm bells ringing loudly about this situation, because this is a threat that has been coming since before Christmas from Minister Mary Hanafin, who said that the lone parents and carers allowances would be reviewed,” said Cllr Berry. “The Government’s only plan to date has been to attack the general public from all angles, but the people they are attacking are the poorer people, which are those on Social Welfare and those on low pay.”
The independent councillor said that most families in the country needs child benefit, and could not possibly afford a cut from the amount they are receiving right now.
“Minister Brian Lenihan is reported to have said the door is open for cuts, and that the basic social welfare payments went up this year, and that the Government provided for generous increases, but I don’t know what he calls generous increases,” said Cllr Berry. “Is he seriously calling the increase of €6 and a few odd pence a generous increase? Is that comparable to the salary increases his own colleagues have got over the past few years?”
Cllr Berry, said it was reported that a €1 reduction would bring in €60 million, but the independent councillor conceded that one euro would acceptable, if it was only €1.
“It is also said that if measures are to be introduced quickly then a straightforward reduction is the way to do it, what does that mean?” asked Cllr Berry. “The early childhood supplement paid to cover childcare costs has already being reduced twice and this is now expected to be cut even further. The other thing that people would want to be cautious about is, it appears that the government has focussed on thinking of altering old age pensions, unemployment payment, carers allowance and widows benefits, as was reported in last week’s Irish Independent.”
Cllr Berry said that the local elections will be held on June 5, and he would like to ask social welfare recipients and those on low pay, to take great consideration as to who they will vote for this year.
