I apologise for being a little late due to delays in traffic. In the absence of a DART service in Mayo, we have to travel by car. I welcome the delegation and I have a few questions for its members. I have had discussions with a number of groups and associations that are concerned about current Government thinking in respect of the continuation of those groups. I would welcome the comments of the delegation on that.
I am concerned that Government, regardless of who is in office, may not wish to have such organisations out there representing the voice of the poor, who have been let down by politicians in the past. Statistics show that 22% of Irish people were living in poverty in 2000, as compared with 16% in 1994. Despite the general expectation that growth in the economy would result in fewer people being marginalised, more people are actually moving into the poverty trap.
My second question relates to Travellers, with whom I deal on a regular basis. I have great regard for those Travellers who make an effort on their own behalf, especially in the matter of getting their children to school. I have to condemn county councils and Government for the fact that people are still living on the side of the road, without basic facilities such as running water, toilets and refuse collection. Travellers have told me - I simply quote the observation, rather than making a point - that they perceive themselves as being even further down the line as a result of the influx of refugees, who seem to be regarded as being more important. I ask the delegation to comment on that and I emphasise that I am not making any criticism of refugees. The concern which Travellers have been expressing to me is that they have lost out because organisations that were assisting them have moved on and left them behind.
I wish to refer to another matter on which I could make political points. However, I will refrain from doing so because the issue is too serious. Following the recent budget increases in social welfare payments, inflation has been running at almost 6%. As my constituency colleague, Deputy Carty, can confirm, people in local authority housing are having their social welfare increases clawed back through increased rent payments as a result of income reassessment. In terms of calculating rent payments, I understand there is an allowance of €16 per family, which has not been adjusted in line with inflation. In practice, people who are getting an increase of €8 or €10 in social welfare are losing €6 or €7 in additional rent payments to local authorities. There is no point in giving people an increase in social welfare payments in one month and, in the very next month, having it taken from them in extra rent payments. They are falling further behind than ever.
On the issue of refuse charges, I must support Deputy Joe Higgins. In my constituency office yesterday, I had up to 40 callers who were simply unable to pay their refuse charges to the town council or the county council. In my county, the local authorities are not very keen on operating the waiver system. We are facing a situation where people will take to the streets in protest on this issue. My basic point is that all of us have failed because, despite the economic benefits of recent years, more people are falling below the poverty line rather than being taken out of that category.
I agree with the earlier comment that money is not the only issue. Education is also a major factor. If I may refer to the particular example of a family by whom I am visited every week, even if they were given €2,000, they would spend €2,050 and never get themselves out of the poverty trap. This is despite my attempts to get them to avail of the services of MABS and other agencies in terms of education, household budgeting and generally coping with payments. That problem will have to be taken on board to a much greater extent and the organisations represented on the delegation have a key role in that regard. I hope the Government will not target those organisations with a view to "taking them out". If those organisations are not there for the people concerned, they will be totally neglected.
My final point relates to disabilities. Some 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed. Even the Government has failed to fulfil its own quota in that regard and that should be highlighted to a much greater extent. If the Government does not lead by example, how can we expect the private sector to employ people with disabilities? The public service is in a good position to provide suitable jobs for people with disabilities, many of whom are highly skilled and computer literate. Most local authority buildings throughout the State are newly constructed, with wheelchair accessibility. However, the State has failed to meet its quota and that issue should be tackled.
I again compliment the voluntary groups on their work. I hope that no Government will target them, but I am concerned, from what I have heard, that they are being targeted. If they are not there for the unemployed, the weak, the sick and people with disabilities, who will be there for them?
The USA is the only other country with more people on the poverty line. I cannot accept a situation in which the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class is squeezed out. That is what is happening in this country. We have become mean during the past ten years, thinking only of ourselves rather than those worse off than us. I hope we can have some fresh thinking in that regard and better consideration for the less well-off.
County councils need to change their approach to refuse charges. Health boards should revise their position on guidelines for medical cards. The point has been well made in respect of the difficulties encountered by people on social welfare to qualify for medical cards under the current guidelines of €135 for a couple and €16 or €18 per child. That is outrageous. At the very least, the guidelines should be adjusted to maintain the position of those already in the system, as a higher priority than bringing in another 200,000. In the case of the over-70s, the decision to issue medical cards irrespective of income was not well thought out. Instead, we should target the weaker sections in society, with particular reference to families, children and those in difficulties. I hope the voluntary organisations will continue their good work and become even more vocal. They will be needed in the future.