Martin criticises hidden cuts in 'callous budget'

A DEEPER examination of the budget revealed devastating and sinister cuts, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin claimed.

He said that despite stating that payments to families at risk of poverty would remain unchanged, it was clear that, as a result of changes to the main means testing arrangements, families receiving the carer’s allowance found their family income supplement savagely cut.

“Before the callous budget, vulnerable citizens never regarded the carer’s allowance as income when applying for family income supplement,” he added.

He said that like many TDs he had been contacted by low-income families who found themselves far worse-off than before the budget.

One family’s income had been cut by €139, while another family faced a reduction of €140.

“This money is not spent on luxuries but rather on the bare necessities of life,” Mr Martin added.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny asked Mr Martin to send him the details supplied by families who had contacted him.

He added that the Government’s budgetary decisions were all unpalatable.

However, it had changed the universal social charge threshold, providing relief for 330,000 people.

Finian McGrath (Ind) warned that if residential places and services for adults with intellectual disabilities were closed as a result of the budget, the service provider would be forced to use a private service at greater expense to taxpayers.

“From a humane perspective, this is madness but even the economics are crazy,” Mr McGrath added.

Mr Kenny said he took Mr McGrath’s point about having to revert to private services.