Dáil debates

Wednesday, 12 December 2007

Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

5:00 pm

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section:

2.—The Minister shall, within the next 12 months, complete a review to determine and set new longer term benchmarks against which the evolution of social welfare rates can be measured.

There are systematic weaknesses or bottlenecks in the system that need to be ironed out. It would be constructive if that were accepted from the outset. My first amendment addresses one bottleneck, namely, the benchmarking issue. A target was set under the national anti-poverty strategy in 2002 to achieve a rate of €150 per week, equivalent to approximately 30% of the gross average industrial earnings in 2002, for the lowest rates of social welfare by 2007. The minimum level of social welfare will be €197.80 once this legislation takes effect.

It is time to examine a long-term benchmark against which to measure the real cost of living or the real threshold for social welfare payments. The Minister should introduce such a measure anyway, that is, to do a review within a year. I have couched my amendment in terms of one year because various Ministers have often told the House of reviews or examinations that can stagger on for four or five years before we learn of a result. In this context, I have sought for the review to be conducted within one year. I hope the Minister will consider accepting my amendment.

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