Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have no doubt that people were very generous when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul held a collection in every parish throughout Dublin last weekend. Some weeks ago I visited the Capuchin day centre in Smithfield where the effects on their services of the recession and Government cutbacks are very visible. These two organisations have in common that they are now seeing people who had never previously availed of their services. The challenges they and other organisations, such as Simon and Focus Ireland, are facing are great. They do fantastic work, but in a truly civilised and humane society the State would look after the poor and marginalised in a meaningful and adequate way. Instead, the Government is introducing measures that will only increase the demand for these organisations' services.

This is why equality-proofing of budgets is vital. An effective social impact analysis of each spending measure and reduction should be undertaken as a matter of course. This would give an accurate indication of the proportionality of impact on the better-off, who we are repeatedly told are bearing their fair share. The fact that this budget imposes greater hardship on certain groups makes it very unfair and regressive. The Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, emphasised that social welfare rates have been maintained, but people must now do more with those payments. The reductions in child benefit will take immediate effect, but there is no information on when measures to offset those reductions for the disadvantaged will be introduced or what form they will take. A family of four will lose €58 per month as a consequence of this budgetary measure. While some will be able to absorb that reduction, it will be a massive loss for others.

People with disabilities, whether mental, physical or both, and their carers have enough stresses in their lives and must support a higher cost of living, yet they are being subjected to a reduction of 20% in the respite care grant. There is no recognition that carers save the State money. If every carer in the country were to refuse to look after their family members, which, of course, they would never do, we would soon see the massive sums of money involved. At the same time, €55 million was found for the bloodstock industry. I would not mind so much if this allocation included a social responsibility levy for people with a gambling addiction, but there is no such conditionality attached. Meanwhile, the back to education initiative has done great work in Dublin Central in offering people a second chance, but provision under that scheme is also reduced.

On the increased powers for recovering overpayments, it is clear that nobody supports fraud. However, a weekly payment must not be allowed to fall below what is appropriate and necessary for a basic standard of living. In this regard, the deduction ceiling of up to €28 per week seems very high. I hope we will see the same zeal and rigour in pursuit of those who have engaged in tax fraud at corporate level.

The north inner city training centre is a special place which offers great opportunities for training and education. There must be positive discrimination for lone parents, of whom we have a higher number than the national average.

Everything that we predicted would happen has happened in terms of Dublin City Council's decision to privatise waste collection in its area. We are seeing the introduction of new charges. This experience should be borne in mind when considering any similar privatisation initiative.

I conclude by pointing out that yesterday was World Human Rights Day. There is little evidence in this budget of any respect for the human rights of people on low to middle incomes, the unemployed, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

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