Child welfare cut in budget flagged

Any cut in child benefit would be a “blatant breach of election pleges from the Labour party” Sinn Fein health spokesman Caoimhín O'Caoláin said in a statement today.

It would be an “outrage” shortly after the passing of the children referendum to “attack” child benefit and hit the most vulnerable children and families, he said.

The prescription charge for medical card holders was something Minister for Health James Reilly opposed when introduced by former health minister Mary Harney, he said.

“Not only has he failed to abolish the charges as he demanded in opposition, but he now proposes to increase them”.

The Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament today urged older people to contact their local TD to express concern about cuts. “Remember everything is still on the table and there is still time to influence the outcome of the budget process,” chief executive Mairead Hayes said in a statement.

Advocacy group Mental Health Reform has urged people to contact Cabinet ministers urging them to keep the Programme for Government promise develop community mental health services. On Wednesday Minister of State for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch said she cannot guarantee there will be no further cuts to the sector’s budget.

Disability groups have expressed fears over the impact of cuts in services and benefits which would be “destructive” of people's “capacity to continue to participate in community life,” the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) said today.

After a “flood of cuts” in the past five years, people with disabilities are “deeply troubled about what is in store”, DFI chief executive John Dolan said.

The organisation that represents Ireland’s private bus and coach companies has called for a user rebate in its pre-budget submission. “There is widespread expectations that Ireland’s road hauliers will receive a rebate, and the bus and coach companies are determined that they won’t be overlooked,” the Coach Tourism and Transport Council said in a statement.

The Government has been urged to give clear guidelines on the expected property tax. If the property tax is based on the market valuation model, clear guidelines on self-assessment will need to be provided to householders, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has said.

“It should be remembered that valuation is a subjective area and multiple factors came into play when deciding on a valuation, especially in the current market,” society president Roland O’Connell said in a statement.