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Sinn F\u00e9in has published a proposal to target an annual social welfare increase as political parties draw battle lines ahead of the upcoming budget.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in has published a proposal to target an annual social welfare increase as political parties draw battle lines ahead of the upcoming budget.<\/p>\n
The party has proposed a new Social Welfare Commission to target the \u20ac5 increase for certain social welfare groups, which it said has become a \u201cpolitical football\u201d.<\/p>\n
The \u201cfiver for all\u201d phenomenon has been a steady addition in the Irish budget for the last several years, seeing \u20ac5 being awarded to those on certain social welfare benefits.<\/p>\n
Media speculation about the \u20ac5 supplement and who would receive it in this year\u2019s budget had already begun, as parties decide on what their respective budgets will include.<\/p>\n
Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath has confirmed he will be seeking a \u20ac5 increase to the state pension during Government budget discussions.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s social protection spokesman Willie O\u2019Dea also confirmed his party will be seeking the same increase.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in said the current mechanism for awarding the increase is a political ploy by parties to curry favor with certain voting groups, without research or targeting those most in need.<\/p>\n
The proposal comes before the budget, due in October, and ahead of a widely predicted general election some time in the new year.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in spokesman on social protection and employment affairs John Brady said money should be allocated based on those who need the extra funds the most, backed by research by an independent group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is about providing a decent standard of living for people on social welfare,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYear on year we see some political parties saying they want to see everyone receive a fiver, but there\u2019s no basis for it, it\u2019s not based on evidence from advocacy groups, Barnardos, or St Vincent de Paul for example.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wrong that people wait around for a year to see if they\u2019re going to get a fiver from the Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would remove it from the political sphere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sources close to Sinn F\u00e9in claim that the current mechanism for awarding the \u20ac5 payment favors those most likely to vote for the current government, and in turn has been seen as a \u201cvote winner\u201d for parties in the past.<\/p>\n
The party has proposed the Social Welfare Commission be set up to ensure the funds are allocated among those most in need by using the Minimum Essential Standard of Living, determined by the Vincentian Partnership of Social Justice, an annual report which examines what level of income would allow different households to live with dignity.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in said those figures should be examined by the commission, which would make recommendations to government on any increases to social welfare in any upcoming budget.<\/p>\n
The proposed commission would have nine members in total, none of which should be employed by the state \u2013 four members from organisations or charities who assist vulnerable citizens, two members with expertise in economics or another relevant field, two members with understanding of the interests of some or all of the groups who would benefit, and a ninth member \u2013 a chairman, appointed by the minister.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in estimates the annual running cost of such a commission would be around \u20ac480,000 per year.<\/p>\n
Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty warned last month that pensions and other social welfare increases would be threatened by a no-deal Brexit.<\/p>\n