The Government should borrow for this Budget to allow investment in the National Development Plan and ensure Ireland’s position when the international economy recovers, the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) said.
The INOU today announced it pre-Budget submission "Investing in People and Jobs" at its national conference.
General secretary Mr Tony Monks said the coming Budget was this Government’s "last chance" to turn things around. The INOU is seeking an increase in social welfare payments of £14 per week.
"It is clear that this Government has failed to grasp the opportunity to tackle poverty presented by the prosperity of recent years," Mr Monks said.
Other key INOU demands include increasing personal tax credits by £600, raising child benefit by £35 per month for the first and second child and £40 for subsequent children, and extending the medical card to all under 18.
The President, Mrs Mary McAleese, began her address to the conference at noon.
