COUNTY MAYOR RAISES CONCERNS OVER WITHDRAWAL OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONY PAYMENTS

Date Published: 23-Jan-2013

The Mayor of County Galway is calling on the Department of Social Protection to reconsider any plans to withdraw payments of grants in relation to religious ceremonies.

Mayor Thomas Welby says the funding which had been made available under the Exceptional Needs Payments (ENP) for events such as Communions and Confirmations has been discontinued.

He says the payment has been decreasing over the years and was capped at 110 euro per child last year.

Mayor Welby says the payments were of great support to low income families in Galway and will have a severe impact if entirely withdrawn.