Any “crude cut” in the rates of Child Benefit payments will impact disproportionately on vulnerable, low-income families, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has warned the Government.
In its pre-Budget submission which proposes the way in which those in need, who are the most disadvantaged in Ireland, should be treated, the Society says that “the proposal for a cut of at least €30 or 20 per cent of the payment per month,” is both “cruel and unfair.”
“Any reduction in Child Benefit will cause real problems for most families, but particularly so for those on low in comes and will most certainly result in an increase in child poverty,” says the SVP submission which has been given to the Government.
“We know through our visits to families with young children that for many of them, Child Benefit is now an essential component o their income and has to be used to pay for basic necessities, such as food, heat, light and rents and mortgages.”
Increases in the cost of school transport are causing great hardship for many low-income families who are struggling with the cumulative effects of unemployment, levies and high school costs, the Society says.
SVP PROPOSALS TO GOVERNMENT ON THE BUDGET
- Child Benefit should remain at its current rate for families on Social Welfare payments.
- If the Government insists on introducing cuts in Child Benefit through means-testing or taxation, such reductions must take account of family income.
- The fee structure for the School Transport Scheme should be returned to the 2008 levels, with a waiver for students from households without a medical card and with incomes up to €45,000. For families without a medical card and incomes above €45,000 a maximum cost of €400 per household should apply.
- All schools should retain their current quota of Special Needs Assistants.
- Address the scandalous cost of schoolbooks.
- No cut in language support teachers.
The full pre-Budget submission by the Society of St.Vincent de Paul, including the detailed proposals, can be read here.