A chara, Richard Bruton is proposing to cut social welfare payments to young adults, in order to encourage them to continue with their education or take poorer paid jobs. At Focus Point, we give advice and assistance and support to many hundreds of 0, homeless people every year and our experience tells us that these proposals, if implemented, will lead to increased homelessness amongst this group.
It is unrealistic to expect a young person without any qualifications, who may also be experiencing serious personal problems, to stay in education. In addition, these are the very people who will have the greatest difficulty in finding employment. The Minister's proposals will give a green light to employers who already pay extremely low wages, to lower them still more and move us further towards a low income economy.
It is difficult enough for a young person to live on current social welfare rates. For some, a reduction in their already meagre income will be the final straw that will break them and push them into homelessness.
Many of the young adults we see are already at the bottom of the heap these measures, if implemented, will ensure that they stay there. I am sure that this is not what the Minister wants, and we urge him in the strongest possible terms to think again. Is mise le meas, Co ordinator, communications and information, Focus Point, 14a Eustace Street, Dublin 2.