MPs want emergency debate on aid to vulnerable groups

Opposition MPs have called for an emergency debate on all cabinet plans which will affect the most vulnerable in society – youngsters, the chronically disabled and the handicapped, news agency ANP reports.


In particular, they are worried about cuts in personal care budgets, changes to the shelterered work system and provisions for young people with a handicap, Labour leader Job Cohen said.
The cabinet is due on Wednesday to talk about plans to slash spending on the personal care budget, which allows people to buy in help to live independently.
In one option, just 13,000 out of 130,000 people would still get the cash, saving €1bn on a budget of €2.7bn.

Sheltered work

The government is also planning to transfer responsibility for sheltered work schemes to local authorities and merge funding with the special incapacity benefit for youngsters.
Some 90,000 people currently do paid work in special centres for the handicapped, but the government wants to cut that total to 30,000.
Local councils will vote on whether to accept the changes at a special conference next week. Many are concerned about the financial implications of the plans.

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