Children are not the cause of this recession but they are paying for it

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012

Press Release, 30 November 2012

Children are not the cause of this recession but they are paying for it

As we approach Budget 2013, the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) and PACUB (Protest against Cuts to Child Benefit) are making a final joint appeal to the Government not to cut child benefit.

Orla O'Connor, Director of the NWCI said, 'More  families than ever are  struggling to pay for the basic necessities, Child Benefit is the only state support to many families to pay for all of the costs in relation to children – food, clothing, school costs and childcare.   It is also the best way to ensure no child falls out of the loop. In 2010, 8% of our children were living in consistent poverty – meaning they are missing out on basics such as hot meals or warm clothes.  We know that households that have children are twice as likely to experience deprivation than households without children.'

Niamh Uí Cheallaigh, a spokesperson for PACUB stated, 'I cannot understand why the government is so intent on making children pay for a problem they did not cause, you would think that children were the cause of this recession. Child benefit as it stands does not even begin to cover the high expense of raising children in Ireland still one of the most expensive places to live in the world. Regardless of the recession the cost of living has not come down.'

Orla O'Connor continued, 'The universality of child benefit is based on an understanding that those with children have higher costs than those without and therefore income is distributed from those who do not have children to those who do. It also acknowledges the critical role of mothers.'

Niamh Uí Cheallaigh continued, 'Child benefit is very important now more than ever, as it is the ONLY payment made to our future tax payers, it is a return of tax already paid, unlike the UK or our European counter parts we do not have free health and education or subsidized child care. So most importantly we need do more for our children not less.'

Orla O'Connor concluded, 'Child Benefit has been consistently reduced in recent budgets. It is no longer paid to for those over 18 years of age and in fulltime education. Rates for third and subsequent children were cut in January 2012 by €19 for the third child and by €17 for the fourth and subsequent children, and this is causing real hardship for low and middle income families who are struggling with a whole host of cuts to their income.'

The NWCI and PACUB are calling for Child Benefit to remain universal and payment levels to be maintained at current rates.

For more information, please contact Silke Paasche, Communications Officer, National Women's Council of Ireland, Tel. 085 858 9104