Tánaiste Micheál Martin called the claims “phoney spinning” and rejected the idea that job seekers would not benefit from increases to fundamental welfare rates.
The head of Fianna Fáil effectively confirmed hikes in weekly welfare rates of €12 across the board, stating that any increases above that would be “marginal” and that they were “stitched in” to the Summer Economic Statement.
He was reacting to rumours that Heather Humphreys, the minister of social protection, had demanded a €15 rise in all weekly rates, with the exception of Jobseekers’ Allowance for long-term jobless people.
“There was never a big discussion about it. There’s been a bit of miss-spin, a bit of mischief going on from a political point of view. Because this only surfaced in the media, it had not surfaced in any of the meetings I attended. It’s surprising that that has happened and I made that clear to my colleagues, where did this all come from?” he said, reports RTE.
He said that throughout the final four years of the government, the issue of barring job seekers from rate rises never came up.
“There was never an issue made of this by any party in Government. It was always agreed that the same levels would apply because of pressures with inflation and coming out of the energy crisis because of the Ukraine war. So I think maybe it is the cycle we are in. The Summer Economic Statement gave the overall expenditure framework. Go back to that and you will see the €12 increase in the pension increase was stitched in to that. Nothing has changed since that and there has been no attempt to change that. Any differential would be marginal. So there’s much ado about nothing,” reports RTE.
One of the initiatives that will be unveiled in tomorrow’s Budget is the expansion of the free schoolbook program to the senior cycle, which was discussed by the government last night.
Additionally, 1,500 additional special needs helpers in schools are expected to get funding.
Before a crucial meeting with the coalition leaders at 6:30 p.m., Ministers of Finance Jack Chambers and Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe are conducting a series of talks with their Cabinet colleagues on the Budget, reports RTE.
It is anticipated that social protection, a business package, and the completion of the cost of living adjustments would take centre stage.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
