Launch of the NWCI Pre-Budget Submission : ‘Women have done the work : its time to share the gains’

Published: Monday, November 01, 2004

''While women have contributed significantly to Ireland's economic success, they have not experienced the benefits of that success'' stated Orla O'Connor, Head of Policy at the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI), launching the NWCI's Pre-Budget Submission outside Leinster House on Kildare Street in Dublin today.

The recommendations made in the Submission identify four priority areas to reduce poverty and inequality for women in Ireland:

• Ensuring women's economic independence
• Health for all
• Working for an Anti-Racist Society
• Building Women's Participation

Ms. O'Connor declared that the feminisation of poverty continues in Ireland, with 23 per cent of women at risk of falling below the poverty line, in comparison to 19 per cent of men and that the risk of poverty is increasing for older women and lone parents. She emphasised how poverty reduces women's ability to have an equal place in society.

''The government has committed itself to reducing women's poverty - Budget 2005 is an opportunity for the government to fulfil these promises. The resources are there, what is needed now is action!'' she continued.

The NWCI is calling for action in the following areas:

• Increase child benefit and restore it for children of Asylum Seekers.
• Increase childcare provision.
• Increase funding for services working on violence against women.
• Introduce funding for the Traveller Health Strategy.
• Increase access to the Medical Card.
• Increase social welfare rates, including pensions.
• Increase funding for the community women's sector.

''The NWCI wants this budget to move women out of poverty and put more money in their pockets'' concluded Ms O'Connor.

Women attending the launch, representative of the priority areas identified in the submission, made specific appeals to Minister Cowen on issues affecting their lives and presented their situations in stark contrast to our country's economic success.