The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed was "delighted" that tax-free allowances had been increased, but criticised rises in the Family Income Supplement and social welfare payments. "For 10 years the INOU has called for tax-free allowances to be standard rated and increased so that people on low wages benefit which in turn provides an incentive for unemployed people to get back to work.
However the Government has failed to keep FIS payments in line with the tax gains." The INOU said the increases in other social welfare payment would not meet the Government's own targets in its National Anti-Poverty Strategy.
