Cardinal Desmond Connell has called on the Government not to hurt the poor when making cutbacks and not to sacrifice the interests of the less well-off in the new economic order.
Speaking at the launch of the annual report of Crosscare, the social service agency of the Dublin Diocese, the Cardinal said whatever the outcome of the changed economic environment it was important the Government continued to have a commitment to protecting the interests and the welfare of the disadvantaged members of society. The economic commentators were advising a tighter control of public spending and a prudent approach to framing the budgets over the next couple of years, he said.
"In Crosscare we are asking that the interests of the less well-off are not sacrificed in the new economic order. Do not hurt the poor with the cuts.
"It is equally important not to lose sight of the social policy agenda in formulating new economic policies," Cardinal Connell stated.
He said everybody was aware of the extraordinary period of economic growth in our country and the benefits that had accrued.
Much had been achieved in many areas, and this was clearly visible in the diocese.
In the social policy area they also saw much needed investment of resources.
The improvements in social welfare payments, particularly the increases in child benefit payments, were welcome, the Cardinal said.
The commitment to community development programmes in supporting disadvantaged communities, the resources available to tackle the drug problem and the initiatives undertaken to tackle the homeless problem were evidence of the priority that was given to the social inclusion agenda. This was the central plank in the social partnership model of the Government's strategy.
Economic commentators were now telling us that this period of economic growth had come to an end.
"In other words 'the party is over' and a new realism has to be taken into account. Negotiations are underway to establish a new social partnership model, I wish those negotiations well," he said.
Cardinal Connell, who discussed a wide range of issues, said homelessness was a very significant problem in Dublin and the suburbs. It was a complex problem which required a range of responses.
Crosscare was involved in responding to the call for action on homelessness. It had established two night service projects for those who were sleeping rough - in Longford Lane and Dún Laoghaire. Nightly it provided 40 bed places, he said.
There had been an increased demand from around the diocese for their Teen Counselling services to support teenagers and other young people in a modern world.
The Cardinal said Crosscare's work included the provision of accommodation to young people out of home in their three hostels; the provision of 173,000 meals per year through their food centres and meals on wheels; providing nearly 9,000 bed nights per annum to street drinking men and women in their night shelters: providing drop-in information on services for homelessness, immigration and emigration; providing support and respite to those who provide full-time care for a loved one in the home.