THE ARCHBISHOP of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has spoken out against further education cuts in the forthcoming budget.
He said welfare payments were an investment in marginalised people, and that society would "lose out" in the long-term if people dependent on welfare were unduly hit.
Speaking at the blessing of a new community centre to help families dealing with drug and alcohol addiction in Artane, Dublin, yesterday, Dr Martin said "everybody" was worried about welfare cuts in next month's budget.
"Everybody is [ worried], but we always have to remember the key to our success in the past, to the economic success we all boast about and the key to our economic success in the future will be investing in people, investing in people's talents. And investing in something we have a lot to be proud for is in an education system that caters well to all sectors of the community. Anything that cuts back on that runs the risk of losing the very talents and creativity that is in people."
He said he understood there would be cutbacks. "But one has to ensure investment that gives young people the possibility of being leaders first in their own lives and then in the society of the future - that must have a priority."
Dr Martin said society had "to have a special priority for those who are marginalised".
Describing welfare payments as a form of investment in poorer people, he said: "If those who depend on them [ welfare payments] lose out, we all lose out, because in the long-term if we invest in people they can be leaders in society rather than burdens in society."
Dr Martin was attending the opening of the Mornington Centre in Artane which will provide support services to the relations of drug addicts, whether they were recovering or not. Among its services will be courses for grandparents who care for addicts' children and bereavement counselling.
