Hanafin: Welfare cuts will be 'fair'
Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin today insisted that any cuts to social welfare benefits in the upcoming budget will be made on a fair basis.
The Cabinet is reported to be planning to cut €1bn from the social welfare budget, with child benefit to suffer a possible 10% cut.
Minister Hanafin today said the Government would do its best to protect vulnerable families in whatever decisions are made.
However the Minister again admitted cuts are on the way.
"There will be changes to the child benefit system - that was outlined last April by the Minister for Finance in the last budget," she said.
"Obviously I want to do it in a way that's very fair, and to ensure that we protect the vulnerable families, and not to impose too severe a cut on couples who are working but who are also paying for mortgages and who are paying for childcare.
"The intention remains the same, which is to try and be fair."
