Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)

Social welfare payments are for the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. I would like to prioritise a certain group, those with disabilities, mental health issues and their carers because these groups have enough to deal with in their lives and should not have to live in fear that their social welfare payments are under threat. A civilised just society would prioritise these people and assure them that their payments are not and will not be threatened. Another group that should be left in peace is senior citizens. At a recent forum in the docklands area of Dublin, they outlined their concerns as we approach the budget. They have come through difficult times at other stages in our history and they have real concerns about their lives and their living standards. One further group that is suffering is the self-employed whose businesses have folded. They need protection as they are unemployed and many are without sickness benefits.

There is a considerable budget for social welfare and it must be used wisely. Efforts must be made to eradicate social welfare fraud which is estimated at 2.4% to 4.4% of total annual welfare expenditure, more than €0.05 billion of which would go a long way towards increasing payments for those in need and even, perhaps, bring back the Christmas bonus which has made a huge difference in certain areas.

Research shows that much social welfare funding is lost through administrative and customer error rather than fraud. In 2009 and 2010, almost 70% of over-payments were due to error. Nobody wants to be unemployed. When this happens, those who are unemployed want to get back working, retraining or avail of the opportunity of further education. The system must help people to do that. I acknowledge the huge workload of the staff in the Department of Social Protection. It involves much administrative procedure and payments that go out to more than 2 million people weekly. There is a need to create a simpler benefit system, a system that meets the needs of the people and not the other way around. The recent flooding incident has shown the need for emergency funding while the urgent payments of €250 have not made an appreciable difference for those who are without insurance because of having been flooded previously.

Austerity measures will not bring about growth. If inflation is likely to rise by 1.5% in the coming year, welfare rates must be adjusted accordingly. Without our social welfare system our poverty rate would be very considerable. I support the point made by Social Justice Ireland that we must limit the impact of budgetary measures on those who can least afford to carry them.

The report of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which it launched yesterday - its pre-budget submission - the title of which reads "Don't cut their Lifeline, Poverty Hurts Us All", says it all.

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