Now more than ever, families need Child Benefit: NWCI release briefing paper : August 19, 2009

Published: Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The government must leave Child Benefit alone and abandon plans to cut, means test or tax it, according to the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI). The NWCI has just published a briefing paper on Child Benefit entitled: 'All Our Children'. The NWCI represents a broad range of women's groups with around 400,000 members.

Child Benefit is used for a myriad of costs in relation to children - food, clothing, school books, uniforms and childcare. Due to government policies, it has become a 'one size fits all' payment. In the absence of government subsidies to pay for childcare and given the abolition of the Early Years Supplement, Child Benefit is now also the only payment to assist parents with childcare costs, which depending on where you are in the country, can range from €800 to €1000 per month. It must also be noted that despite a current deflationary economic environment, childcare costs have risen by 6.7%.

While cuts of any kind to Child Benefit will primarily hurt families on low incomes, the NWCI outlines in its briefing paper why it must be maintained as a universal payment to all families. 'Child Benefit is the only payment that goes directly to the mother; explained Orla O'Connor, NWCI Head of Policy.

A survey conducted by the NWCI amongst its membership showed that 66% of respondents viewed Child Benefit as a 'critical' part of family income at the moment.

Families are already being hit from all sides, by redundancies, reduced pay at work and no opportunity to put money by for once payments at Christmas or family emergencies. The government needs to maintain Child Benefit so that all families can continue to rely on it in these extremely difficult and uncertain times.

The NWCI and the women who are its members are committed to resisting any reduction in Child Benefit' concluded Ms O'Connor.