Questions and responses below put by Sinn Féin TDs to the Minister for Social Protection

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to jobseeker payment rates introduced by the previous Government in Budget 2011 and if so when.
– Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. 

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to disability payment rates introduced by the previous Government in Budget 2011 and if so when.
– Martin Ferris. 

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to carer’s payments rates introduced by the previous Government in Budget 2011 and if so when.
– Seán Crowe. 

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cut of 4% to the so called working age social welfare rates introduced by the previous Government in Budget 2011 and if so, when.
– Peadar Tóibín. 

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to lone parent payment rates introduced by the previous Government in Budget 2011 and if so when.
– Seán Crowe.

R E P L Y

I propose to take the Questions together.

This Government takes up office in the context of a profound banking, fiscal and jobs crisis and the decision to seek external financial assistance which has been provided by the EU and the IMF. This crisis has been caused by the reckless mismanagement of the economy by previous Governments.

The priority of this Government is to get our economy moving, restore confidence, fix our banking system and support the protection and creation of jobs. The success of our economic plans will lay the foundation for the rest of our agenda for change.

Sustainable public finances are a pre-requisite for economic stability and growth. To this end, the State must pursue a determined deficit reduction strategy. We believe it is appropriate, in order to enhance international credibility, to stick to the aggregate adjustment as set out in the National Recovery Plan for the combined period 2011- 2012. 

Accordingly, the appropriate levels of social welfare rates will be considered in the context of Budget 2012. This Government is committed to tackling Ireland’s economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced, and which recognises the need for social solidarity. In this regard, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to maintain social welfare rates.

In the meantime, the Government’s priority is to develop a strategy to allow job growth and sustainable enterprise. This is central to any recovery strategy. The Government will, over its first 100 days, introduce and resource a series of measures designed to reduce unemployment and get Ireland working again. These will include measures to significantly increase the number of training, education and work experience opportunities as well as a wide range of other initiatives. I look forward to developing these with my colleagues over the next few weeks so that they can be announced and implemented as soon as possible.