Vol. 413 No. 3
19 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the current nationwide campaign by the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed; his views on their eight key recommendations; and, if he will take any of the recommendations on board in the immediate future.
I am aware of the recommendations on reform of the social welfare system which have been put forward by the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed and which are being examined in my Department. Each of the recommendations has implementation costs and, consequently, they will have to be considered in the context of the overall budgetary situation and in the light of the resources available.
I would like to add that representatives of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed have been invited to attend the pre-budget forum which I will be hosting shortly. As Deputies may be aware, this is an annual event at which voluntary organisations, representative of social welfare recipients, are invited to discuss with me their proposals and priorities for social welfare in the forthcoming budget. These occasions have proved to be successful in formulating proposals for consideration in the lead up to the budget.
