A series of biting social welfare cuts could push already struggling Irish families into a poverty trap, experts are warning.
Although the full extent of the cuts to child and unemployment benefits in the Irish Budget have yet to be announced, the anticipated reductions in income could coincide dangerously with a two percent hike in value added tax (VAT) rates driving up the cost of living even further.
This week children's advocacy groups warned that cutting children's benefit by a rumored $14 would drive families into poverty.
Senator Jillian Van Turnhout of the Children's Rights Alliance told the Herald that the speculation is causing 'incredible stress' for families.
-----------------------
READ MORE:
Returned Irish emigrants still denied social welfare in Ireland
Welfare payments now made to half the Irish population
IMF want welfare payments cut, minimum wage slashed
-----------------------
'This would be a third successive cut for families,' Van Turnhout told the Herald. 'This will deepen families who are already in poverty or push those who are on lone-income payments into poverty. We have to make some difficult decisions. But child poverty is unacceptable.'
Fergus Finlay of Barnardos, the charity founded to care for vulnerable children and young people, said that such a move would result in children going hungry.
But Irish Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said that no cuts had been formally decided. There were many compensatory measures that could be taken, he added.
'For example, the child dependent allowance is paid to those on the lowest incomes and that could potentially be increased to compensate for the reduction in child benefit across the board.'
It is believed that Irish ministers have contemplated introducing a $10 cut to social welfare payments.
7 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.sirpeter | Nov 23, 2011, 09:56 PM EST
Bilgegate.When you make statements like all Irish people just use children's allowance to buy drink with.You show yourself up for what you really are.Because most people here know that's not true.You ignore my comments now because your arguments are weak and you can't back up what you say.Still for a person who hates Ireland and has no respect for anything Irish.Strange you are on this site.Is their some Irish person I can thank that made you really angry.lol
GeorgeDillon | Nov 23, 2011, 02:57 AM EST
These people need to lighten up. They should remember that their government is spending billions of foreign migrants. Hundreds of millions for teaching English to children from Ethiopia to Estonia, just to take one example. Tens of millions for child welfare for children living in Poland Lithuania and Latvia, to take another. Lighten up, people, it's all in a good cause!
Towngate | Nov 22, 2011, 03:35 PM EST
Before you get upset about this proposal, remember this payment of €150 per month each for the first two children and €187 for each subsequent child, is paid irrespective of Parents earnings,capital, property ownership or inherited wealth. Parents on low earnings have several other Social 'safety-net' payments. The only thing effected by a good hearty cut in this payment of 'Mammy's Pocket Money' will be the takings at the local bar! This is just another confirmation of 'Cloud Cuckoo Ireland'! A Failed State living on borrowed money!
CitizenWhy | Nov 22, 2011, 03:21 PM EST
Yes, but the banks will still get their billions, and banks, not families, are the basis of society.
BARNEYKX | Nov 22, 2011, 01:00 PM EST
MAYBE IF THE POLITIONS TOOK A CUT ON THIER 3,000 A WEEK PENSIONS IT WOULD HELP THE COUNTRYS FUNDS
Pittsburghkid | Nov 22, 2011, 10:50 AM EST
The Goal of Socialism is to have as many people on bread lines as possible. The Bread Line is the perfect division of the wealth. Although some Socialist would complain about the unfairness of one person standing in front of another person. This would result in quota's, set asides, or lotteries. Eventually the Socialist Bread Line would fail.
LoyalCitizen | Nov 22, 2011, 10:13 AM EST
They are already there.....Now how do we climb back out.