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Departmental Estimates.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2004

Wednesday, 11 February 2004

Questions (59, 60, 61, 62)

John Gormley

Question:

111 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the response she has made to the 13 voluntary groups which have reacted negatively to recent cuts within her Department's Estimates. [4032/04]

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Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

113 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has evaluated the hardship caused and likely to be caused by the cutbacks announced for her Department in the budget on the various persons or groups who have reason to depend on her Department for assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4025/04]

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Kathleen Lynch

Question:

127 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will report on her meeting in December 2003 with groups opposed to the social welfare cuts announced in the 2004 Book of Estimates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3873/04]

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Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

140 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that community welfare officers and 13 voluntary organisations have come together to oppose the series of social welfare cuts introduced in November's 2003 Book of Estimates; her views on whether this represents a strong level of opposition to the cuts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3877/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 113, 127 and 140 together.

I met representatives of the 13 voluntary groups in December to hear their views and to explain the background to the changes announced in the Estimates to them. I outlined to them that expenditure on various social welfare payments is reviewed on an ongoing basis by my Department to ensure that the schemes continue to meet their objectives.

In that context, the Abridged Estimates Volume for 2004 contained a number of changes which are designed to ensure that social welfare spending is better focused and that the available resources are used to benefit those most in need. For the most part the measures will not affect existing claimants, but will apply to new claimants from various dates in 2004. The majority of the measures relate to the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered by the health boards on behalf of my Department. Those measures ensure that supplementary welfare allowance is focused on meeting immediate, short-term income maintenance needs, rather than long-term need, for example, housing or child care, which needs a more structured, long-term response. At the meeting, I also took the opportunity to outline the specific provisions that would be made to ensure that the interests of vulnerable groups are fully protected in the course of implementing the measures.

Full consideration has been and will be given to the various opinions and views expressed at these discussions. Some of the participants acknowledged the reason for the decision taken but were concerned that alternative arrangements should be in place before changes were introduced. In that regard, I explained that the timing of the announcements was dictated by the Estimates and budget calendar but assured them that the measures would be introduced in a careful and a responsible manner. I am confident that the measures will achieve a better outcome both for the people involved and for the State.

I have also met with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and with representatives of the community and voluntary pillar. Under Sustaining Progress, there is provision for monitoring and consultation regarding policy initiatives and I will be meeting these social partners again in the coming months in that regard.

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