Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2019
76. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there was no increase of the social welfare basic payment in line with the recommendation by an organisation (details supplied) of a €9 universal increase. [43641/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government has committed to making the needs of families a priority, especially lone parents, children and those on lower incomes.
Over the previous three Budgets, personal weekly rates have been increased by €15 per week with proportionate increases for those with a qualified adult dependant. Payments to qualified children have also increased, and will increase again in January to €36 per week for children under 12 years old and €40 per week for those who are 12 and over.
In addition, we restored the Christmas Bonus to 100% in 2018 and this will be paid at the same rate again this year to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients to assist people with the extra expenses incurred over the Christmas period.
Increasing the standard rates of payment is, however, only one approach the Government has taken to improving the living standards of social welfare recipients. We have also introduced targeted measures such as increasing the fuel allowance and the living alone allowance (both of which were called for by Social Justice Ireland). In addition, we increased funding for school meals, increased income disregards for lone parents and low income families and strengthened the provision of employment supports.
A €9 across-the-board increase in rates would cost almost €640 million. Available resources in Budget 2020 were used to target increases towards those people most at risk of poverty.
