PEOPLE LIVING in poverty “could not survive” any further cuts to income and services, the Society of St Vincent de Paul has said in its pre-budget submission.
Cuts to social welfare so far had had a “devastating impact” on those the charity helps, society president Mairéad Bushnell said.
“Further cuts, including the proposed flat-rate annual household charge, will push them further into debt and poverty,” she said.
“They have no more to give. We know that people in poverty cannot survive any further cuts to incomes and services.”
One-parent families, households with children, people living alone, migrants and self-employed people were “particularly vulnerable”, Ms Bushnell said.
The charity made 50 requests to the Government in its submission, mainly calling for the preservation of social welfare rates and eligibility criteria.
It also called on the Government to allow self-employed people to build up a PRSI entitlement for jobseeker’s benefit.