Sinn Fein councillor Therese Ruane has condemned proposed cuts to rent supplement for those living on social welfare.
“Rent supplement is paid mainly to those who are totally dependent on social welfare, with the tenants being expected by the Community Welfare officers to pay a small portion of the rent from their meagre welfare payments. The dogs on the street know that the reality is that a large proportion of those in receipt of the payment, pay well over the official rent, in unofficial payments to unscrupulous landlords. So reducing the rent supplements will not force landlords to reduce the rent they charge, but will in fact lead to struggling families making the shortfall from their already depleted welfare payments.
“This is a cruel and callous attack on vulnerable people who are already battling unemployment, cuts and debt. It is scandalous that this Government can find billions to gift to its friends, the corrupt bankers in Anglo Irish, but can’t find €20 million to help disadvantaged people pay their rent.
“This is yet another in a long line of Fianna Fáil attacks on the most vulnerable. The Social Welfare Bill, which is due before the Houses of the Oireachtas next Tuesday, proposes a litany of cuts to people on social welfare and on single parents in particular.
“This government has absolutely no shame. You really have to wonder what’s next on their drip-drip agenda of cuts. They have run this economy into the ground and they have crippled working people and the disadvantaged. Shame on them”, she said.
