Cut to religious event welfare payments debated

FIRST HOLY Communion and Confirmation social welfare payments are being reduced to curb excessive spending by some parents.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore told the Dáil he shared Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton’s view that “lavish expenditure’’ had, in some cases, been associated with Communions and Confirmations.

“I am aware that many parishes and schools are anxious to get the costs associated with those events somewhat under control.’’

As a result, continued Mr Gilmore, the Minister was limiting the payments to €110 in each case as part of the changes she was making to the guidelines covering the “exceptional needs’’ payment.

“I hope that will help to limit the amount of expenditure in this area.’’ Last year, he said, 14,000 payments were made at a cost of €3.4 million.

The Tánaiste was replying to Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, who claimed the move was part of Ms Burton’s continuing crusade against families on low incomes.

“The exceptional needs payment is, by definition, made to families with exceptional needs,’’ she said.

Overall last year, close on 250,000 payments were made under the scheme, which also covered items such as cookers and washing machines and the payment of energy bills.

Ms Burton, she said, had reassured people they could always go to their community welfare officers if they found themselves in dire need. She asked if it was Government policy to wash its hands of responsibility and rely on organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul to pick up the pieces.

“Regardless of the Tánaiste’s views of Communion, Confirmation or any other religious milestone in a citizen’s life, a child has to be dressed for the occasion,’’ Ms McDonald added. She said there was an astonishing contrast between the €6 million for TDs’ expenses, some of which were unvouched, and the cutbacks. She asked if the crusade of the Government, and more astonishingly the Labour Party, against people on low incomes was gathering pace.

Mr Gilmore said the Government had assisted people on low incomes. There had been no cut in basic social welfare rates, while some 330,000 people on the lowest incomes were taken out of the universal social charge.

The cut to the national minimum wage, made by the previous government, was reversed.

Mr Gilmore said they were dealing with once-off payments made by community welfare officers under guidelines drawn up in 1995.

“Even Deputy McDonald will acknowledge that much has changed since 1995,’’ Mr Gilmore added.

“There are people who may be in need of payments for one reason or another but cannot get them because the community welfare officers are operating on the basis of rules that are 17 years old.’’ He said payments were being made in some parts of the country that might be more appropriate in places with a greater level of need.

Mr Gilmore said it was about using the scarce public resources to the best effect to ensure money spent on people in need went to those with the greatest need.

From time to time, it was necessary to change the way in which money was being spent.

Rules that were 17 years old needed to be updated to reflect the times in which we were living so that those who were in the greatest need got the benefit.