Horses,dogs and pubs more valued than our kids

Click here to play - TV3 video PACUB and NWCI

I didn't want to mention PACUB in this post. To mention the 8 long months of hard work. To mention the great girls who have given up their time for the campaign against cuts to child benefit.


I didn't want to bore you with the talk of the fantastic mothers who fought for their children - one mother has a child with cerebal palsy (confined to a wheelchair) and another with Aspergers, another girl with 4 young children who is on social welfare who had to use her child benefit money to meet Minister Hanafin to ask her not to cut child benefit. Another woman who has two youngs kids, runs her own business and still managed to find time to do interviews and keep the campaign running.

There was another mother with 4 kids and PND who got up off her bum, faced the public to collect signatures for our petition in the pouring rain outside the GPO one Sunday. Another mother with 2 kids was given out to when calling the media as she was English and why did she care about child benefit! One other lady who works shift work, faced Pat Kenny on live TV - alone - and left her young child at home to stand up for child benefit. A "high earning" mother in Cork, who is pregnant with her third child, felt bad to say that she needed child benefit. Another mother runs her own business from home, has 2 young babies and helps us with the website.

I could go on and on but I won't as I said I am afraid I will bore you all to death. Because it seems child benefit is not that important a subject to the majority of people. People are "too busy" to fight for child benefit. That is funny, as all the mothers above are actually "too busy" as well but somehow they found the time.

Today politics in Ireland has reached a new low, when the government moves ahead to cut child benefit by 10%, cut the widow's income, remove the dental scheme and target public sector workers who earn less than 30,000 Euros a year. Our not held in that high esteemed leader, takes a bluff of a pay cut of approx 5% (the other 10% should have happened already voluntarily last year) is still paid 7 times the salary of the public sector worker whose salary he stands by cutting.

Where is the outrage? I shake my head at the attitude of Irish people, happy that the price of booze hasn't been touched. So it's more important to help people drink themselves stupid than worry about child poverty rates in Ireland. It's more important to help the publicans and the car dealerships than it is to help the families 
 
As one lady wrote on our PACUB facebook group - "According to Barnardos the net saving they will make from cutting child benefit is €155 million. The cuts in alcohol duty will cost €90 million & yesterday they also announced €60 million to the Greyhounds & Horses Racing Fund! These two things could have been used for child benefit instead! The government value horses, dogs and alcohol more than our kids!!!"

It's not about public or private, it's not about the childless taxpayer vs family of taxpayers, it's not about the opposition party versus the ruling political party --- it's about people. Ordinary decent people.

This budget has been deemed an "unpopular" one, it's not the X-factor guys! It's not a popularity contest. These decisions have real and tangible affects on families. Particularly the middle and lower income families who are being whipped skinless. There will be a new poor in Ireland, meanwhile the rich get richer. A caller on Joe Duffy said he and his partner (no kids) earn 180,000 combined income, yesterday's budget had zero effect on them, they were embarrased, they were willing and able to take a cut and they were left unscathed. Somehow the high earners were left alone, in their 09 Mercedes, with their 2nd holiday homes, to enjoy their champagne lunches and Harvey Nics christmas shopping sprees..

 The government had a choice, there was substantial wiggle room. It's clear who they want to please - who has their ear. While we, the ordinary people, at the very least are left with a vote and a long memory.

Horses,dogs and pubs more valued than our kids

No Santa Claus this Christmas

It is so sad that every single newspaper I read this weekend pointed to 'child benefit cuts of 10%'. Not a single journalist questioned this. All were more interested in debating the ridiculous union proposal of 12 days unpaid leave (as opposed to a pay cut).


I don't know if people are budgeted-out, or in the midst of budget-fatigue. After all this year has been all one big threat hanging over the heads of Irish people about how much they will cut, where they will cut and that throw away line about "protecting the vulnerable." The only ones this government are protecting are themselves. It is also sad to see the Greys Greens, throw away their voice and brains for power. What a price to pay to stay in government. 'Anger is not a policy' they spat out at us - no but greed does appear to be a common theme.


We have hundreds of case studies of how a cut in child benefit will affect families and children in particular. It is not just the low incomes and social welfare recipients that need protection. All families are vulnerable, particularly now with pay cuts, massive childcare costs, massive mortgages/rent and a recession that has many people unemployed. One of the only regular incomes for families is child benefit*. Especially now this month the Early Childcare Supplement will be removed.


But no, what is important for the government is to be "seen" to be acting with the "vulnerable" in mind. So they will give a small throwback from child benefit to top up child dependancy allowance or Family Income Supplement. Most commentators warn this move will create a poverty trap. Also there will be an army of new administrators needed to set up the new system not mind the cost of setting up this new system, in addition there will need to be further investigations into fraud.

Not alone that, any cuts in child benefit set a precedent which means when they need to claw back more money next year they will cut again and the year after again ... until like the Early Child care supplement (100% abolished this month) there will be nothing left. The statistics show Ireland has failed her children and is about to do so again (OECD reports).Yet at the same time our government seems intent on protecting the super rich, I will be sorely disappointed if on Wednesday the tax shelters and super rich are left unscathed.

This article annoyed me - promises, promises. It's all about being "seen" to do the right thing as I said earlier. When this was published and even with all the articles pointing to the supposed fact child benefit and social welfare will be cut - the voices in opposition were silenced or sleeping. We have now officially lost that mantle of the "fighting Irish" we should now re-christen ourselves to the "lazy Irish" or the "lying down and taking it not matter what the consequences" Irish.

The case studies we received about cuts to child benefit would make a stone cry. One of these in particular is about this father, Frankie who is caring for his 3 year old son Tommy. He is a palliative-care-child who has severe neurological and cardiac problems, requiring round-the-clock care in their home. He was driven to write a song inspired by the cuts to child benefit. Reading his introduction on website alone as to why he wrote the song is heart breaking - http://www.anirishchristmas.ie/nosanta/

On the website he says "Perhaps "No Santa Claus This Year" might prick the conscience of those who would wield the axe in the direction of some of the most vulnerable in society......the children".

Next Wednesday, at 5.30pm life will change irreversibly for thousands of children if the predicted cuts on child benefit are implemented in the December 2009 budget.

At least come what may on Wednesday - I can look my children in the eye and say 'I fought for you, I fought and gave you a voice. Our group PACUB gave a voice to thousands of families - we protested, we marched, we delivered a petition signed by 16,000 families, we met with representatives from every political party, we held a press conference with voluntary groups, we were on every radio, TV and newspaper in the country. We appealed to the Minister face to face. We did what we could. And still the government made their choice despite being armed with the information thousands of families would struggle and children will suffer.'

* Child benefit now is the only government support given to families to help them with the cost of raising their children. There are no tax credits for families. So a family of 2 adults and a family of 2 adults and 4 children are effectively seen as the same in our tax system. In fact there are tax credits for rubbish bins in Ireland but not children. There is no childcare subsidy and no special prices for children when visiting doctors, dentists. Many families incomes are unpredictable at the moment as they have job insecurity (the majority have taken pay cuts) and some people are also self-employed. So child benefit being a regular income is often times the one income families can rely on.

No Santa Claus this Christmas

Help us give a "hamper hug" this Christmas (deadline Dec 11th)

There are far too many heart-breaking stories of families struggling to make ends meet. We asked the PACUB members (4,672) and the Save Child Benefit Ireland members (3,735) how a cut in child benefit would affect them and they told us, in no uncertain terms how this was a lifeline. We handed these stories into Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin yesterday.

That meeting for me personally, I can only describe as disturbing and she was even intimidating towards us. Nevertheless we continued in a professional spirit. Somewhere along the lines I think she forgot that she is our public servant. But alas despite emotional pleas and case studies that would bring tears to a stone, nothing was able to penetrate that wall of ice. Even if the politicans won't listen we want the families who opened their homes to us, to get something back. We want to let you know that we are listening, we care and we want to help.

One mother wrote to tell us she broke down crying at the kitchen table as she couldn't afford ice cream for her children, another mother told me her neighbour couldn't afford chicken in the supermarket, another had to make a decision between coats and shoes for her children this winter.

These are just some of the stories we have heard - but unfortunately there are many more needy families out there and they deserve a bumper christmas present.

PACUB has joined forces with Little Dale Academy creche in Stillorgan and are looking for your help in identifying families in need. We will create hampers containing baby/children clothes, non-perishable food and unused toys.

You can help us two ways:

1. Nominate a family who you think deserves a "hamper hug" this christmas. Let us know how many children in the family, their ages, their address and a short paragraph on why they deserve to be sent a hamper. Please send your email to irishmammyontherun@gmail.com before December 11th (so we can send it in time for Christmas)

2. If you have a surplus of baby or children's clothes that you got as presents and are taking up space in your house, please send them along with any new toys or books you may have to Little Dale Academy, 19-21 Dale Road, Stillorgan, Dublin. Again please try and send these in the next week before December 11th.

Let's give as many hugs as we can this christmas :-)

Treasa
PS am pleased to announce a delivery company  - GLS - has come on board to help us out!

Help us give a "hamper hug" this Christmas (deadline Dec 11th)

1 million reasons (joint press conference)

Today for the first time, a joint press conference was held in Dublin representing 1 million children calling on the government to leave child benefit alone. PACUB (Protest Against Child Unfriendly Budget), NWCI, Children's Rights Alliance, One Family and Open all joined forces to represent families, single parents and gave a voice to children in the crazy government plan to cut/tax/ remove in some shape or form child benefit.
Thanks to Charlie Weston from the Irish Independent who was our chair for the day.

Interestingly only newspapers turned up for the press conference. But we also had TDs from FG and Labour present to voice their support. George Lee (FG) wondered why parent's hadn't reacted when the ECS (Early Childcare Supplement brought in to help parents with childcare costs - amongst highest in Europe!) was removed in the April 2009 budget. I replied PACUB was established because of that very reason. If we don't react now to proposed child benefit cuts, he warned it can be removed or cut as easily as the ECS.We reminded him Child Benefit has already been cut, now it only applies to children under 17. Even those parents with children going to school under the age of 18 have no right to claim it any more.

The much bandied about chestnut that "families don't need it" was challenged - where is the research to this claim? Every parent I know is glad of it and uses it for food and clothes for their children.In no small way the families of Ireland are the powerhouse behind spending, if you cut families income - you cut spending. Anyway I say it all much more eloquently in my speech here it is for those interested.

1 million reasons - PACUB speech at the press conference 26th November

Last week I spoke to a mother in tears. If Child Benefit is cut next month, her choice is to either heat her home or to buy winter coats for her children – but not both. She says if child benefit is cut, she's in a trap, she can't afford to pay the creche fees and she can't afford not to work – their mortgage was based on a double income.

That mother represents just one of the 16,000 families who signed the PACUB petition calling on the Government to ‘leave child benefit alone. She and thousands like her are why PACUB was set up by a voluntary group of parents this April.

Child benefit levels in Ireland are similar to other Western European countries but the overall package of support for families is much worse.

• A UK Government survey placed Ireland near the bottom of 22 countries (page 13 has conclusion), due to childcare costs and a lack of services for children.
• We have some of the most expensive childcare and after school care in Europe, we pay to take our sick children to the doctor, for all our children’s prescriptions and for school books and school buses. This is not the case in many European countries.
• Last Sept the government clawed-back 90% of funding which was earmarked for community crèches - they saved 114 million euros but what is the cost to our children?
• And more shockingly if we look at the world stage, Ireland is bottom of the class. A recent OECD report shows that Ireland spends less on children under 6 than anywhere in the developed world! The OECD report from this September recommends Ireland to provide more cash benefits in the pre-school years and early childhood education.

Families are financially battered and bruised, with over 77,000 facing repossession. And the only income that they can count on – to put food on the table - is child benefit.

• In fact from next month, when the Early Childcare Supplement is abolished – child benefit remains the only government support given to all families to help with the cost of raising their children. It is not some benevolent hand out – it is an allowance given by the government to encourage and help families with the cost of raising children. Whether children are cared for in the home full time or in a crèche – they create expenses.
• For many, as there is no tax credit system for children, child benefit is regarded as a return on tax already paid.
• For others it forms a fundamental part of our constitution “to value and protect the family”.
• For stay at home mothers, it values their time and in some cases it is the only income that a mother gets into her hand which can be spend directly on clothing, feeding and educating her children.

The headlines say that child benefit cuts will save €400 million. But if you cut families incomes they will just spend less. Less spending means less tax revenue.

More cuts will paralyze growth, employment and consumer spending. The result? A retail wasteland from Dingle to Dundalk. There will be substantial pain for very little in return. And it’s pure government spin that families don’t need it. Of course they do!

• CSO figures tell us that 1 out of 6 families are struggling to pay their bills - they cite childcare and mortgage costs as crippling.
• Women’s Aid figures point to an increase in domestic violence due to the recession. For some mothers child benefit is the only income they receive. If the government decides child benefit recipients on household income, women will be forced into dangerous situations. Women from all walks of life.
• Poverty amongst those in "middle class" Ireland is hidden from view, locked behind closed doors. However the Family Resource centers report a “huge increase” in middle-income families seeking help because of the downturn.
• The rising personal debt mountain - now over €168bn – is more than double the national debt of €75bn.

In addition, 90% of parents surveyed by the NWCI said child benefit was essential or very important to them.
Meanwhile, over 50% of mothers surveyed in an online poll said that they would have to reconsider working outside the home if child benefit is cut.

• If we look at childcare costs alone – they have soared from €94 per week in 2002 to €184 now. That’s a 100% increase.
• Child benefit in 2001 was just over 67 Irish pounds or 86 Euros a month …….today child benefit is 166 per month – a matching 100% increase.

Last week we saw much hoo-haa about a handball in Paris, rising tempers from government ministers and other high profile people shouting --- we were “robbed”.

A robbery on a much bigger scale is about to happen right here – as Fergus Finlay of Barnardo's said - “Could it really be true that what happens to the Irish football team is more important, or capable of making us more angry, than what happens to the next generation?”.

For speculators looking for a good return on investment, we have in Ireland a hugely untapped natural resource – our children.

•  Studies show one euro invested in a child gives a guaranteed return of eight euros when these children become adults and start earning a salary.
• Our children are not a lifestyle choice, like a new car or a puppy. Children grow up to become tomorrow’s tax payers. Tomorrow’s pension payers.
• They are our future, and nothing is more important than Ireland’s future.

“Those who are most vulnerable in our society are the young and the elderly. It is at the beginning and end of our lives that we need help the most,“ said Bertie Ahern in raising child benefit in 2004!!

We ask Mary Hanafin to have a heart this Christmas and sees that if one child suffers because of this cutback, it is one child too many. No matter how dire the economic situation is, taking money from our children should always be a last resort.

1 million reasons (joint press conference)