Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 October 2004
165 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he plans to reverse any or all of the remaining social welfare cutbacks announced in November 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23316/04]
View answerThe Estimates for the Department of Social and Family Affairs announced last November included a number of provisions to better target resources within the social welfare code. These measures produced significant savings which, in turn, freed up resources towards a substantial budget 2004 package of €630 million. This enabled the provision of increases well ahead of inflation for all social welfare recipients of weekly payments as well as significant general improvements in social welfare provisions generally.
As my predecessor has already indicated to the House, the implementation of all of the Estimates measures has been kept under review and there are no plans to change any of the measures currently in place.
