My budget:There were a lot of missed opportunities in yesterday's Budget, according to Natasha Dempsey.
The part-time student, who is also on a community employment scheme with Ballymun Welfare Rights, said she saw nothing in the Budget which would help people on social welfare return to the workforce.
"Minister Cowen had the power to address a lot of the issues that affect people living in poverty in Ireland and I don't feel they were dealt with," she said.
She was particularly critical of the social welfare and children's allowance increases.
"The €10 increase in child benefit wouldn't be enough to get a child's hair cut," she said.
"The €20 increase in the lowest rate of social welfare is going to be taken back at the end of January when the general prices of goods and services go up," she said.
More should have been done to deal with spiralling day-to-day living costs such as electricity and fuel, she said.
She saw no mention of the family income supplement and little action on social housing, issues which would have to be addressed to enable unemployed people make the jump back into full-time employment.
However, she welcomed the doubling of tax relief for first-time buyers.
"It's a welcome change of people trying to get access housing," she said.
However, Ms Dempsey was critical of the increase in the old age pensions which she said could have been more generous given the resources at Mr Cowen's disposal.
"People at the lower end of the scale are not coming out any better off," she said.
"This Government gives a little but takes back a lot."