Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin has tabled amendments Nos. 38, 39, 42 and 43, which deal with methods of deduction, hardship as a result of deduction, refusal of tenants to engage, the notification within ten days of a deduction from a tenant's social welfare payment and the compiling of a report within six months of deduction. Mandatory deduction from social welfare payments is a fundamental issue. At present it is 15% and Deputy Catherine Murphy has proposed 5%. A myriad of other charges are being introduced and I am opposed to the idea that someone will not have control of his or her own money. This 15% can be taken from a person on €188 a week. People aged under 25 receive only €100 a week and a deduction of 15% is a huge amount. The ability of the Department of Social Protection to take this percentage from social welfare payments is wrong and this series of amendments has been tabled in this regard.

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