Budgeting to address unemployment
8 Oct 2009
In our Pre-Budget Submission the INOU is calling on the Government to urgently review its priorities and to treat unemployment as the major crisis needing to be addressed. "The language of economics and its concerns have dominated the public debate to-date and there is an implicit presumption that society must fall into place behind the economy", noted Bríd O'Brien, Head of Policy and Media with the INOU.
Society and the economy are intertwined and it is not feasible or advisable to ignore social policy in the pursuit of economic goals alone. "Ireland must invest in its people," she continued, "it will not be possible to realise a 'smart economy' unless we have a 'smart' and inclusive society". To that end it is vitally important the Government take informed and integrated policy decisions to protect the most vulnerable. Otherwise there is a real danger that structural long-term unemployment will become embedded presenting significant challenges and costs at the personal; communal; and societal levels well into the future.
The INOU feels very strongly that impoverishing people who will face increasing challenges in securing employment in a rapidly changing labour market is not the way to address the current crisis. Therefore, the organisation is calling on the Government to "maintain the basic social welfare rate". At the INOU's Annual Delegate Conference, the delegates called for the average waiting times for payment of Jobseekers Benefit to be no more than 2 weeks and for Jobseekers Allowance to be no more than 4 weeks. Slippage in recent months highlights the need for more focused and immediate action.
Well designed labour market programmes integrated into a more pro-active and client centred employment and related services have an important role to play in addressing socio-economic exclusion. The INOU is calling on the Government to increase the number of places on Community Employment; and to greatly improve the links between education, training and employment programmes and wider labour market opportunities.
"Supporting unemployed people into employment and supporting those in vulnerable employment demands action on two fronts," noted Bríd, "Family Income Supplement should be simplified and further improved, and the social welfare must adapt to support people working reduced but irregular hours".
The INOU will be one of a number of community and voluntary organisations raising our concerns with Minister Mary Hanafin at the Department of Social and Family Affair's Annual Pre-Budget Forum tomorrow in St Andrew's Resource Centre.
For further information contact: Bríd O'Brien, Head of Policy and Media at 01 856 0088; 086 608 9641
Download a copy of our full Pre Budget Ssubmission by CLICKING HERE
