Taoiseach criticized in Dáil as families line up for diapers

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar defended the government's investment in the fight against poverty following the revelation that hundreds of women, many of them homeless, are lining up at Dublin's Capuchin Center for diapers and clothing. milk powder for infants.

Speaking Tuesday in the Dáil, Mr Varadkar said the benefits for employment and welfare had increased and that new allowances were pending. He added that additional support was directly available from the government through community social workers.

"I am aware that some people may, for their own reasons, not want to benefit from these supports and to turn to voluntary organizations, many of which, including food banks, are funded by the government."

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin underlined the report in Irish time weekly service where diapers and formula are provided free of charge by the Capucins Day Center to families in need, with more than 600 families registered and some from hotels in Drogheda and Dundalk, where they were housed.

He added that the state needed to invest more and that it was "urgent to focus on the needs of homeless children and reduce the need for the Capuchin Day Center to continue to intervene at the level and on the scale in which he intervenes. to prevent poverty and deprivation. He noted that the Capuchin Center did not receive any funding from the government.

Many who sought help lived with their parents. They "are not included in homelessness statistics, but they live in very stressful conditions."

Pearse Doherty, deputy leader of Sinn Féin, said the photos in the newspaper of people queuing for diapers and a formula showed "how the government failed in its responsibility to protect some of the most vulnerable citizens in society. , namely our young people and our children ".

According to Mr. Varadkar, the number of people at work has increased considerably, which has helped reduce poverty in general and child poverty.

Social benefits were increased and further increases in March of next year targeted families with low-income children.

He said "there will be an increase in qualified child allowance, improvements in the family income supplement and improvements for lone parents".

Taoiseach added that people who can not cope "even with their social allowances have the option of approaching social workers to look for special needs payments or urgent needs payments."

Catherine Ardagh, head of the InFianna Fáil Seanad section, who raised the issue in the upper house, said: "This is not acceptable in a prosperous country where we say we have full employment and that the The economy is supposed to prosper, with mothers lining up for food. He's mocking the belief. "

She also said that "if there was such a need and that children would starve or go without diapers, it would be fair for the government to intervene."

Fine Gael Seanad's deputy chief, Catherine Noone, said no one wanted to see such scenes. "I do not think the photo suggests that some citizens are starving. The reality is that the state supports mothers and babies in difficult financial situations. It is good that the Capuchin Day Center provides them with some additional things they need. "