Government must reverse its decision to cancel Chrismas payment
Issued : Saturday 7 November, 2009
Areas : Waterford
Labour Councillor Seamus Ryan has has repeated his call on Fianna Fail to restore the Christmas payment to pensioners and social welfare recipients
Labour Councillor Seamus Ryan has has repeated his call on Fianna Fail to restore the Christmas payment to pensioners and social welfare recipients. Speaking at a meeting of the Waterford City South Branch of the Labour Party Cllr Ryan said he has submitted a motion to Waterford City Council calling on the government to reverse this decsion. He also went on to say that there is genuine worry amongst social welfare recipients that unless this decision is reversed that people will face serious financial difficulty this Christmas. According to Cllr Ryan this government chose to deprive families dependent on dole payments; old age pensioners; carers; single parents; and people who cannot work because of a disability, of money to pay for Christmas. With thousands of Waterford people losing their jobs and now dependent on social welfare payments it is certain that this measure will hit them particularly hard.
Cllr Ryan went on to say that the solution to this economic crisis is not going to be found by raiding the pockets of people who are long-term recipients of social welfare. The only people to benefit by cancelling this Christmas payment will be moneylenders. “Many Waterford families are facing a bleak Christmas as to try to come to terms with the loss of this payment. The parents and pensioners I am meeting on a daily basis are extremely worried about this draconian measure and I am calling on Fianna Fail to reverse it immediately in the forthcoming Budget.
Cllr 
