The Minister for Social and Family Affairs faced calls yesterday to increase social welfare rates in the forthcoming Budget to meet commitments set out under the Government's anti-poverty strategy.
The Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI) met the Minister and called for lowest social welfare rates to be increased by €14 for a single person a week, and €24 a week for a couple.
Father Healy said the increases were needed if the Government was to reach its target of raising the minimum level of social welfare by €50, from €134.80 to €184.80, by 2007.
Minister Brennan said the Government would meet the targets within three years. "I share their objectives and, with the rising economic tide, it's important that we try to focus those additional resources to all sides of society left behind in different ways," he said. "We have committed ourselves to reaching that target, so it's just a matter of what steps we take to get there."
Father Healy also argued for tax credits to be provided so that minimum wage earners can be removed from the tax net instead of widening tax bands, saying tax credits would be a fairer way of addressing the needs of the "working poor".
"If the tax band is expanded, larger benefits go to those whose income is already high enough to keep them in the higher tax band. No benefits whatsoever go to those whose income is so low that they have not yet reached the 42 per cent tax rate," he said.
Father Healy said he was encouraged by yesterday's meeting with the Minister. "He was very aware of the issues that we raised. We'd be hopeful that we'll get a positive response come Budget day."
