LIMERICK TD Willie O’Dea has slammed Tánaiste Joan Burton and her party’s management of social protection, as he reveals that research conducted by Labour proves that Budget 2015 benefited the wealthy more than those on lower incomes or welfare.
According to Deputy O’Dea, the research showed that the distributive impact of Budget 2015 was uneven, with higher than average gains for the better-off.
The most vulnerable 20 per cent saw the smallest improvements.
The Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Social Protection commented: “This is further evidence of the absolute failure of the Labour Party in Government. Only three weeks ago we learned that Ireland’s deprivation rate had increased to a record of 30.5 per cent, and that almost one in eight children now live in consistent poverty. Now it’s emerged that when an opportunity arose in Budget 2015 to address this crisis, Labour opted to favour the better off when allocating state resources.”
Deputy O’Dea lashed out at Tánaiste Joan Burton, saying that she “has presided over approximately €1.8 billion in cuts to social programmes”, which he claims has resulted in more than a million people experiencing “enforced deprivation” in 2013.
The Limerick City TD concluded: “The number of long term unemployed has remained static at 180,000 for the past three years, while 74,000 young people are still out or work and not in any education or training schemes. These figures are a direct result of Labour’s policies in Government. This is their legacy. Labour in Government has slashed the very supports which aim to protect vulnerable people.”
