Burton 'To Maintain Social Welfare Rates'

There will be no cuts to primary weekly social welfare rates - despite the deep Budget cuts announced yesterday.

Instead, over €20.5 billion is to be spent on Social Protection in 2012 while €475 million in savings are to be achieved.

The Dáil Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, promised that primary weekly social welfare payment rates would be protected in Budget 2012.

She said rates for weekly payments such as Jobseeker’s Benefit and Allowance, Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Allowance and Widower’s Pension would not change.

The monthly Child Benefit for each of the first two children is maintained at €140, while older people would continue to get their State Pension at current levels.

Minister Burton said: "I recognise the severe impact on families, individuals and communities as a result of the economic collapse. I want to protect them from the worst consequences of this very deep recession by delivering on the government’s promise not to cut primary social welfare payments."

The Minister said the Government had decided to limit the adjustment in Social Protection spending to €475 million in 2012 or just over two per cent of the Department’s spend.

"This government recognises that welfare expenditure plays a vital role in protecting the most vulnerable people in Irish society, as well as stabilising the economy generally," she continued.

"The government had decided to make an adjustment of €3.8 billion between tax and spending in 2012. Of this, €1.45 billion was to come from day to day spending including health, welfare and education.

"As the biggest spending Department, the Department of Social Protection must play its part in that adjustment," she said.

The Minister also outlined other measures including changes to child benefit, back to school allowance, lone parents allowance and fuel allowance.

(BMcC/GK)