John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will give a firm commitment that there will be no cuts to basic social welfare rates in the next Budget; if she will give a further commitment that there will be no cuts by stealth, through changing eligibility rules and cutting secondary benefits; if she is seeking views specifically from such groups as the St Vincent de Paul and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service on the potential effect of cuts to the social welfare rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37195/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The 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 appropriate level of overall expenditure by my Department, including expenditure on weekly and other payments, will be considered in the context of Budget 2013 and subsequent Budgets. Sustainable public finances are a pre-requisite for future economic stability and growth, as well as being a pre-requisite for maintaining and developing our social protection system. The Government’s priority is to secure economic recovery, promote growth and employment. To this end, the State must pursue a determined deficit reduction strategy. Accordingly, there will be an on-going requirement to curtail expenditure in 2013 and in later years.

There are, therefore, considerable challenges ahead including the need to protect, as far as possible, the key income supports and services operated by my Department. These services and supports impact in some way on the lives of almost every single person in the State. The scope and scale of this expenditure plays a key role in the wider economy and helps to partially offset the effect of the downturn. There is no question of introducing changes by stealth. If the Government decides to change eligibility rules or make other changes to achieve savings, any such measures will be announced in the Budget and will be debated in this House.

Looking ahead to the preparations for Budget 2013, I will appear before the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection on the 26^th of September next to discuss Budget 2013. The input of the Committee in this regard will be valuable in informing the Budget and Estimates process for 2013 and I look forward to this engagement with the Committee members. I will be holding a pre-Budget forum on 12^th October of this year, to which I have invited thirty five groups, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I will listen carefully to their submissions in relation to the next Budget. In addition, I will take into account the views of the MABS, which operates under the aegis of the Citizen’s Information Board, an agency of my Department.