Press release
Minister Humphreys hosts Pre Budget 2021 Forum in Dublin Castle
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, T.D., hosted the Department of Social Protection’s annual Pre-Budget Forum in Dublin Castle today.
Representatives from over 50 organisations and community groups attended the Forum, which was moderated by Deirdre O’Shaughnessy, broadcaster and journalist.
Addressing the Forum, Minister Humphreys said:
“Up until March this year, about 1.4 million people; pensioners, people with disabilities, people on maternity or sick leave, carers and jobseekers, received a payment from my Department. In addition, nearly 640,000 families receive Child Benefit each month for more than 1.2 million children. Since March my Department paid 701,000 individuals a Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
“The question for us all this morning is: How can we build a budget which prioritises resources effectively and delivers the best impact, both in terms of addressing the risk of poverty and helping people to return to work?”
The Minister spoke about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has changed the economic and social landscape for every citizen. The Minister told the Forum that the Government is committed in its Programme ‘Our Shared Future’ to tackling poverty and social exclusion and promoting participation in society. Therefore her key priorities are to support people back into employment and improving the living standards for the most vulnerable in society.
Minister Humphreys also stated that she is committed to implementing the new social inclusion strategy - A Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025. On this, the Minister announced today that she is establishing a Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group and she has asked her colleague, Minister of State, Joe O’Brien, T.D. to chair this group. Sister Bernadette McMahon and Patricia Kielty will be members of the Steering Group – the group’s first meeting is being scheduled for September.
The Minister acknowledged the engagement with the stakeholders such as those attending the Pre Budget Forum in helping her and her officials prioritise measures for the upcoming Budget.
“The options for the forthcoming Budget will be considered by the Government in the coming months and your Budget submissions and participation here today are a hugely important and valuable part of the process.”