Calls for increases in social welfare benefits for the unemployed, carers and pensioners in this year's Budget have been made to the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs at a special forum.
Groups representing the elderly, women, the unemployed, carers and people with disabilities were among 25 organisations which made oral presentations to Mr Dermot Ahern and Department officials.
Mr Ahern estimated it would cost more than £4 billion to implement most of the major proposals presented at the pre-Budget forum.
He compared this with last year's record increase of £850 million in social welfare spending.
"Part of my problem is as always the miracle of the loaves and fishes. I have to take the money that's given to me and balance the various demands that are out there," he told The Irish Times.
Mr Ahern said he would fight as hard as he could "to get as much as I can", but he was conscious that this year's budgetary situation was not as good as last year's. "Obviously the situation with the Exchequer is more constrained than last year but the Government has already indicated, particularly through Charlie McCreevy this week at the Fianna Fβil ardfheis, that social welfare, health and education would be priority areas."
Mr Ahern said it was Government policy to positively discriminate in favour of the elderly "and you can take it that that is what we will continue to do".
The Conference of Religious in Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the National Women's Council of Ireland were among the groups which called for a £14 increase in the lowest social welfare payments for a single adult.
This would increase the lowest level of social welfare payment to £98 a week in 2002 and would cost about £700 million.
The society also called for increases in child benefit, the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance and the amount of money paid to asylum-seekers.
Age Action Ireland called for an increase in pensions to £125 a week, with future increases linked to average industrial earnings.
Pavee Point Travellers' Centre said Travellers should be able to retain medical cards for five years after taking up employment.