{"id":23139,"date":"2021-09-19T13:44:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T17:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23139"},"modified":"2021-09-20T11:47:36","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T15:47:36","slug":"increased-funding-for-public-services-social-welfare-expected-in-new-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23139","title":{"rendered":"Increased Funding For Public Services, Social Welfare Expected In New Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Minister for Public Expenditure, Michael McGrath, will publish Budget 2022 next month (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Government has a number of key objectives that will frame next year\u2019s budget, the Minister for Public Expenditure has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael McGrath said that among its priorities is the need to have public services to be able to resume in as \u201cnormal way as possible\u201d following a challenging 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The budget, which will be published next month, is also expected to include an increase in social welfare rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr McGrath told RT\u00c9\u2019s This Week program that many people have had difficulty in accessing healthcare services, which he said is a priority for Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will have a number of key objectives really in framing Budget 2022 and among those will be the need to have a period where our public services can resume to function in as normal way as possible after what has been a really difficult 18 months for our country,\u201d Mr McGrath said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo many people have had difficulty in accessing certain services, particularly in health care. We have seen increases in waiting lists and obviously that will be a priority for Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe whole issue of maintaining good public services through to 2022 and addressing many of the issues that arose over the course of the pandemic and of course securing economic recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the country is seeing a \u201cstrong rebound\u201d in the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to see that transition into a sustainable recovery,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we look at all of the challenges that I have to try and manage on the expenditure side of the budget in child care, health, education housing, transport, capital spending, I\u2019m in a position to meet many of those needs if we have a strong economy that is delivering the type of revenues that we need to meet the legitimate expectations that people have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said that Ireland needs to enter a period to start repairing the public finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr McGrath said there was a \u201cvery large deficit\u201d in last year\u2019s budget, which will be followed by another large deficit this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to start reducing it and we do that over time, carefully and gradually tapering the pandemic-related emergency expenditures and managing our core expenditure in a sustainable and responsible way,\u201d the Fianna F\u00e1il minister added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also acknowledged the rising cost of living, particularly among pensioners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr McGrath would not confirm that social welfare rates will rise in next month\u2019s budget, but said the Government is aware there has not been a hike in more than two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe acknowledge that in the last two budgets there has not been an increase in core social welfare weekly rates and we will consider that issue in the next number of weeks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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