THE government has been called on to reverse its decision to withdraw community welfare officers from health centres in the county. The motion was raised at a special meeting of Limerick County Council, during which the cuts were referred to as ‘scandalous’ and ‘appalling’. According to FF Cllr Eddie Wade, numerous individuals have approached him in relation to the cuts. “In all the years I have worked as a public representative I have never seen so many people who depend on social welfare, suffering from serious illnesses.
“Recently I was approached by a man while I was in hospital who is a type one diabetic and is 80% blind and who is being cut off from two more incomes. It’s scandalous and another attack on the vulnerable and elderly in society.
“If you file for disability pension now, you can be sure you won’t get it,” he said.
Cllr Eddie Ryan FF pointed out that not everyone has the transport to travel to a community welfare officer, while Cllr Mike Donegan FF said it was mostly young and elderly people who would be affected and that there is no public transport in places like Kilfinane, Galbally and Kilteely.
Fine Gael’s Cllr John Sheahan agreed with moving the social welfare services into the Department of Social Protection, adding that he hoped the move would lead to rationalisation to protect the basic levels of social welfare.
However, Cllr Michael Collins FF stated that community welfare officers are key in communities.
“They are cutting 14 across the country; its appalling and the government should be ashamed”.
Meanwhile, Cllr Kevin Sheahan FF questioned why nobody was speaking out about the “injustice in the social welfare system.
“People are being treated like rag dolls and businesses that are going to the wall are being paid a paltry amount while there are households that never did an hour’s work in their lives earning €1,000 a week on social welfare.
“I have seen other families forced to eat tins of beans poured over their mashed potato to moisten them for their children, who are being told that they can’t turn on the lights to do their homework.
“Its not just, its not fair and it has to change now.
“The Government is losing the trust of people”.
