Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 35: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cut to child benefit introduced in budget 2011 and if so, when. [6005/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Family and child income support payments both assist parents in contributing to the costs associated with raising children and play a very important role in the objective of reducing child poverty. The Government is conscious that child benefit as a universal payment can be an important source of income for all families during a time of recession and unemployment.

Between 2000 and 2009, overall expenditure on child benefit grew from just €638 million to approximately €2.5 billion per year. The reduction in the level of child benefit payments in Budget 2011 was designed to reduce the structural level of government spending in the context of a tough budgetary environment. This Government is committed to tackling Ireland's economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced, and which recognises the need for social solidarity. The Government, in addressing all aspects of the public finance, will seek to ensure that resources are allocated fairly and that less well-off families are protected in so far as possible. Decisions on the child benefit payment rate are a matter to be decided in a budgetary context.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 36: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to reverse any of the welfare cuts imposed by the previous Government in the areas of disability payments, child benefit, rent allowance and jobseeker's payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6028/11]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 37: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to jobseeker's payment rates introduced by the previous Government in budget 2011 and if so, when. [6020/11]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 39: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to disability payment rates introduced by the previous Government in budget 2011 and if so, when. [6023/11]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 40: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to carer's payments rates introduced by the previous Government in budget 2011 and if so, when. [6021/11]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 43: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cut of 4% to the so-called working age social welfare rates introduced by the previous Government in budget 2011 and if so, when. [6006/11]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the commitment in the programme for Government to maintain social welfare rates refers to all welfare payments and if this commitment is intended to last for the full duration of the Government's term. [5975/11]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 49: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cuts to lone parent payment rates introduced by the previous Government in budget 2011 and if so, when. [6022/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 37, 39, 40, 43, 48 and 49 together.

This Government takes up office in the context of a profound banking, fiscal and jobs crisis and the decision to seek external financial assistance which has been provided by the EU and the IMF. This crisis has been caused by the reckless mismanagement of the economy by previous Governments. The priority of this Government is to get our economy moving, restore confidence, fix our banking system and support the protection and creation of jobs. The success of our economic plans will lay the foundation for the rest of our agenda for change.

Sustainable public finances are a prerequisite for economic stability and growth. To this end, the State must pursue a determined deficit reduction strategy. We believe it is appropriate, in order to enhance international credibility, to stick to the aggregate adjustment as set out in the National Recovery Plan for the combined period 2011-2012. Accordingly, the appropriate levels of social welfare rates will be considered in the context of budget 2012. This Government is committed to tackling Ireland's economic crisis in a way that is fair, balanced, and which recognises the need for social solidarity. In this regard, the programme for Government contains a commitment to maintain social welfare rates.

In the meantime, the Government's priority is to develop a strategy to allow job growth and sustainable enterprise. This is central to any recovery strategy. The Government will, over its first 100 days, introduce and resource a series of measures designed to reduce unemployment and get Ireland working again. These will include measures to significantly increase the number of training, education and work experience opportunities as well as a wide range of other initiatives. I look forward to developing these with my colleagues over the next few weeks so that they can be announced and implemented as soon as possible.