Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

With the announcement this morning that 413,000 people are on the live register, does the Taoiseach accept that the current level of jobseeker's allowance at €204.30 as a basic payment for those over 20 is barely set at survival levels? No one in this House could anticipate surviving on €204.30 per week. This is against the backdrop of there being no jobs available because the Government has clearly failed to address that critical need not only in terms of job retention but job creation. That is the critical failure of this Government to address holistically the challenge that has presented itself over the past 12 months.

How in heaven's name does the Taoiseach believe a further reduction in social welfare supports will, in any way, be a contribution to addressing the needs of our people? We will further penalise the least well off in society, remove from them any modicum of survival levels and further restrict their potential to contribute in terms of turnover in spending power in their respective communities. The whole thing is a cycle of decline which will continue to be fed by this Government if it pursues this course.

I appeal to the Taoiseach to recognise that this will lead to major social upheaval and great pain for the least well off in society. As he has done in regard to the schools building programme, will he put to rest and give peace of mind to the 413,000 people and their families who are dependent on social welfare that they will not face an even harder and more straitened Christmas following the budget later this year?

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