Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move recommendation No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:"Review of all expenditure reductions
2. The Minister for Social Protection shall review all expenditure reductions within her Department resulting in a reduction in a rate of payment or the ceasing of a welfare payment or scheme since 2011, review options for restoring those payments to their previous levels and shall bring forward a report on same.".

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, to the House. This is a sensible recommendation and I hope he will consider it. To give just one example, the cut in the respite care grant in last year's Social Welfare Bill left disabled people with a 30% reduction in their payment. This reduction affected 5,000 families, for many of whom it is the only payment they receive. In bringing forward this legislation, the Government is able to claim there are no further cuts in provision and, in fact, €5 is being restored to the child benefit payment. There is no reference, however, to what was done in the preceding years.
Any government must be concerned with reviewing its priorities. The area of disability, which saw the largest percentage cut in any allowance, should be one of those priorities. The reduction in that case was more than €300 out of a €1,700 payment. I recall it very well, but it is just one example. We are seeking, in this amendment, to place a statutory obligation on the Minister to report back on cuts imposed in previous budgets, how those payments might be restored and, if they cannot be restored, why that is the case. I am sure my colleague, Senator Paschal Mooney, wishes to comment on the proposal. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's view.