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January 2010
Deadline extended amid slow response to free pre-school scheme
THE GOVERNMENT has extended the deadline for parents to sign their children up for a year of free pre-schooling amid complaints from childcare operators of a slow uptake for the flagship scheme. Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews said yesterday he would give parents an extra week to sign up for the early childhood care and education scheme and would treat late applications flexibly. He also rejected criticism from childcare operators, who have accused the Government of dropping the ball by failing to properly advertise the scheme, which formally starts operating on Monday.
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30th December 2009Children face a 'Black Christmas' as Lenihan slashes child benefit
Children face a 'Black Christmas' as Minister Lenihan slashes child benefit by 10% in the 2010 Budget. Family incomes are being attacked from every side in this Budget, but the Government has chosen to target children for the biggest cut of all. Parents' group PACUB is horrified by the Budget, and predicts that more and more families will fall into poverty as the new decade begins.
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9th Dec 2009Child benefit and welfare rates to be cut
The Finance Minister has announced cuts of just over 4% in social welfare rates and cuts in child benefit. Child benefit will come down by €16 a month for the first child, with compensation payments for those on social welfare.The lower rate comes down to €150, the higher rate to €187. The Minister said he had hoped to make child benefit taxable, but there were legal and logistical reasons why this could not be done now.
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9th Dec 2009‘Suffer little children’ – 10% cut is “merciless” says PACUB
PACUB (Protest Against Child Unfriendly Budget) is deeply concerned about TV3 reports tonight that child benefit faces a 10% cut in child benefit in the December 9th budget. “Time and time again we see the government attacking the most vulnerable first the pensioners now the children. Emergency cushions are being created for banks while families are drowning in debt trying to make ends meet,” said Treasa Dovander spokesperson for PACUB.
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1st Dec 2009Green TD sparks child benefit row
THE Green Party was called upon last night to say if it agreed with a senior party figure that anybody earning over €100,000 should have their child benefit ended. The Greens' deputy leader Mary White said she felt anybody making over €100,000 didn't need child benefit. However, child benefit campaigners are upping the ante in their campaign against cuts tomorrow and say everybody's circumstances are different. Ms White claimed her personal definition of 'very wealthy' was 'anyone earning over €100,000."
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29h Nov 2009New three-tier payment system could bring down Government
THE Government, with its plans to cut child benefit, is about to create a monster that could devour it whole. The annual bill for providing child benefit to one million children is €2.5bn. The Government seems determined to cut the payment in the Budget and is pushing ahead with convoluted plans to take an axe to child benefit and bring in a new system. This latest plan being put forward is some kind of crude three-tier system of graduated payment of child benefit. What people in the Cabinet do not seem to realise is that paying child benefit at three different levels is likely to be a recipe for disaster.
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29h Nov 2009Early childcare the 'best investment'
THE BEST long-term investment the Government could make to ensure Ireland’s economic recovery would be in early child-care and education, according to a new group of childcare advocates. The Start Strong network, which has more than 90 members including the Children’s Rights Alliance, Barnardos and the National Parents’ Council, was formerly the Irish Childcare Policy Network. It announced its “Children 2020” campaign yesterday, saying the current “patchwork response” to early education meant Ireland was “bottom of the league” of 25 OECD countries.
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29h Nov 2009Family groups unite to oppose child benefit cuts
FIVE ORGANISATIONS involved with different aspects of family life have come together to oppose cuts in child benefit in the forthcoming budget. A joint press conference was held yesterday in Dublin by Pacub (Protest against child-unfriendly budget); One Family, representing one-parent families; Children’s Rights Alliance; One-Parent Exchange Network (Open), and the National Women’s Council of Ireland.
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29h Nov 2009Parents Slow Uptake of Pre-School Scheme Adds to Mounting Problems With Government Scheme
In April 2009 the Government introduced the ECCE Pre-school scheme whereby a Childcare Provider must supply 3 hours of pre-school per day, 5 days a week, and 38 weeks of the year for a fixed fee of €64.50 for all children nationwide in the year leading up to a child going to primary school. This is due to take effect from January 2010. Doesn’t this sound and read like a fantastic idea ... well, look a little closer!
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26h Nov 2009Child Benefit Allowance
The talk of cutting child benefit raises fundamental questions about the kind of society we want. Do we want to favour those who do not have children over those who do? With childcare costs at €1,000 per month in Dublin, do we want to force those women who are in paid employment to give up that paid work because they cannot afford to pay for childcare?
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24h Nov 2009Child benefit proposals 'flawed'
The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) has criticised proposals to alter child benefit payments, describing them as "fundamentally flawed". The organisation said the plan to create three different bands for the payments would force women out of the workplace, as it failed to recognise the cost of childcare incurred by families. "At a time when it is reported that €300 million has been lost in the deal to save Anglo Irish Bank, the obsessive focus by the Government on cutting Child Benefit as if it was the only source of savings at this critical time is unacceptable," said NWCI's head of policy, Orla O’Connor.
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24h Nov 2009Parents across income brackets fear worst
Paying social welfare recipients the most child benefit will create a disincentive to return to work, according to mother-of-four Niamh Kelly. Mrs Kelly and her husband Paul rely on social welfare since he was made redundant in the last year. Mrs Kelly, from Carlow, said the €738 a month they received in child benefit had been crucial to pay the bills. Under a three-tier system they were still likely to lose part of this, but it would also make it even more difficult to return to work, she said.
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11h Nov 2009Mums 'will be forced out of the workforce'
PARENTS warned yesterday that the three-tier child benefit system could force many mothers out of the workforce. They expressed alarm after Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin mooted the idea -- stating that such a system could see every family in the country hit, with some losing up to half of their child benefits. Parents Against Child Unfriendly Budget (PACUB) said that Ms Hanafin's proposals would also decimate consumer spending, as families would have less cash.
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11h Nov 2009Taking the tough decisions
Will Fianna Fail backbenchers vote for cuts in child benefit, and other deeply unpopular measures, knowing that many of them will not be re-elected next time around, an eventuality which could occur sooner rather than later if the Government fails to get its Budget proposals through the Dail? What a dilemma. Child benefit is only part of the bigger problem facing the Government, a microcosm of the mighty €4bn challenge.
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11h Nov 2009Top earners face biggest cuts in child benefit plan
EVERY family will take a cut in child benefit under plans being considered to slash the social welfare bill in next month's Budget -- but the wealthiest will be hit hardest. The Irish Independent understands the basic rate will be reduced across the board, but lower-income families will get cash back to compensate them. Child benefit would be paid at three different levels -- one for low-income families and those on state benefits, one for middle-income households and one for high earners.
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11h Nov 2009