Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The fact a Labour and Fine Gael Government cut the redundancy rebate for employers from 60% to 15% is scandalous. Who did this affect? It affected employers but it also affected those people who they were getting laid off because they no longer got any top-up over and above the two weeks statutory payments to which they were entitled.

In 2009, Fianna Fáil cut rent supplement by 8% and reduced the maximum rent caps. In budget 2012, the Minister cut the supplement further and she also abolished the concurrent payments so lone parents and people with disabilities are now effectively excluded from CE schemes.

Having said all that, I welcome Deputy O'Dea's conversion to supporting the low paid and the most vulnerable in our society.

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