Cuts will condemn families to poverty, say campaigners

Published: Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Drastic cuts will condemn families on the breadline to a life of poverty, hunger and homelessness, charities and campaigners claimed tonight.

Children's rights activist Norah Gibbons claimed cuts on the poorest who survive on low incomes and social welfare will result in many children going without one full meal every week.

"Minister, you have added to the misery of children and poor families," said Ms Gibbons, of Barnardos.

Measures outlined in the scathing Budget 2011 include cutting child benefit by €10 a month for the first and second child, with an additional cut of €10 for a third child.

Social welfare will also be slashed by 4pc, around €8 on an average €196 a week payment.

Ms Gibbons criticised Mr Lenihan for ignoring recent statistics which revealed the number of children living in consistent poverty had risen to almost 92,000 last year.

"We know that will have risen again," she continued.

"That is enough children to fill the Aviva Stadium twice over. Child benefit was the one thing that was there to take children out of consistent poverty."

Cuts will condemn families to poverty, say campaigners........

..........Susan McKay, National Women's Council chief executive, said: "With little support from the government, women made a huge contribution to Ireland's economic growth.

" Even the IMF recognised that women are needed for Ireland's recovery.

"This budget ignores that fact. It is bad for women, bad for children, bad for the economy."

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