Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was not a passive social welfare system. One can tie the news up in any way one wants but that is what is happening, it is a significant cut. The Minister proposes to abolish the bereavement grant so it will be completely gone. In addition, in reducing maternity benefit by €32 per week, the Minister said it was standardisation but it is not, because 96% of women will be affected by the cut and only 4% will gain. The Minister is abolishing the mortgage interest supplement; increasing the waiting days for illness benefit from three to six days; discontinuing the personal weekly rate of €230.30 paid to invalidity pensioners at age 65; and extending PRSI cover to all employed contributors of unearned income.

The following is not in the Bill but the Department of Social Protection has abolished the telephone allowance for the elderly. That has been done already. The Minister has increased minimum contributions for couples from €5.35 to €40 and changes have been made to the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance.