Almost 16,000 families say no cuts to child benefit

 Handing in the petition in the pouring rain were the PACUB committee members and their children. It was a virtual monsoon and the Gardai and Pat Kenny Radio (listen from 30 mins in) both asked if we were calling it off - no way we said. We had to represent these people and families that had taken the time to sign the petition and tell this government that cutting child benefit is wrong and immoral. The government has a duty to protect the family and instead is intent on attacking its very foundations.

A single idea from a single person united minds from all over Ireland, from single/double/no income families to unite together to stand up for their children.

Already the government have halved Early Childcare supplement and from January it will be abolished (83 Euros per month/ approx 1000 per year) and news reports today suggest 20 to 25% of  child benefit will also face the axe (this is worth 166 Euros per month ( so at 25% cut that represents 42 Euros) therefore 42 +83 x 12 is the equivalent of a monetary loss of E 1476 Euros per child per year. Families are taking the brunt of this recession and it's simply not fair. Not fair when they can target the 111 tax breaks and tax shelters that could raise 5 billion in revenue. But that would mean the very wealthy super rich who use Ireland as a helicopter landing pad might have to pay some tax.

A united group calling themselves "The Community Platform" added their voice to the debate recently "time to abolish tax shelter for the rich" the Examiner called their letter. It's not just community groups and children's charities that think this move is wrong - it's worst than that - the NWCI and TASC call the move "regressive" - this is an excellent article showing how cutting child benefit will push those teetering on the edge of the poverty line right down into the poverty trap.

It does however feel like you have all the good "independent voice of the people" guys in one corner saying "No Cuts to child benefit" and the uncaring, politicans/government-backed-reports/commissions/economic bodies in the order saying "CUT, cut it now"!

But then again several economic minds have said that one of the key reasons they are intent on cutting it is becuase it is an easy target. That in reality the "right" thing to do would be to spend time examining the implications of this decision, have a public consultation process in finding ways to improve support for the poor and in protecting those teetering on the line. But no, our Irish Government dance to the tune of the bankers and developers and leave their own people stranded. They don't have time to examine the right ways of doing it so they will just cut it as means-testing or taxing seems a bit of a headache for them. It sounds so callous to tell a child that there is no money for food because the government didn't have the time to work out a better solution as regards child benefit.

You think I am exaggerating? 1 in 9 children according to Barnardo's are on the poverty line in Ireland. Yes I wrote Ireland. Not the third world. Ireland. I think people don't realise this. So when you sit idly by as the government plan to go ahead and cripple the families and children of this country you are at fault. Sometimes I am short of banging my head off a wall, it seems as though people are caught in a celtic tiger hangover that leaves as a residue this bad taste in your mouth. This horrible self-important attitude "well I don't need it anyway" or I can't be seen to need it.

Now consider that FACT again - there are 1 in 9 children in this country ALREADY living in poverty - that's before these latest cuts come into being. What about thinking of others less fortunate than yourself? What about standing up for your principles? What about the notion that every child is equal?  Are we the society of passers by, we can't help ourselves looking at the accident as it happens but we do nothing to help.

Early childcare supplement cut by 100% and the 25% cut of child benefit this represents in total a 50% cut per child to overall family support by the Irish Government (and that's before tax). This is a massive cut when nothing else is showing deflationary figures of 25%! Especially childcare costs! The end result sadly will be more people on social welfare, the very pocket they are trying to save from!

Even though the weather was not on our side on the day we handed over the petition - we had fantastic media coverage thanks guys for joining us in the rain.

 

The coverage included front page picture Irish Independent see Niamh and her Teddy they also gave us a quarter page and picture on page 11 inside the newspaper:

We had interviews with RTE Radio 1 (Pat Kenny), TV3's News bulletins and the following morning's Ireland AM, the Daily Mirror devoted a page to us see below:

If nothing else we know the powers that be have the petition signatures - containing angry, worried voices therein. We know they have heard  our radio, TV interviews and have seen the press pictures. Here is a snap shot before it was handed in (the full petition is closed online but is still available for viewing here.)

But sorry to say, I know the economy is in dire straits but this solution continues to make no sense. Yesterday two Sunday newspapers said that Child benefit still faces cuts of 25% it is the "quickest route" of saving the government Euro 500 million see Sunday Tribune and Sunday Business Post.


So now I am a little more than disillusioned by my fellow Irish people.  There is only so much a part-time voluntary committee can do, we need the voice of ALL parents to make the government listen. It's now in your hands...

Almost 16,000 families say no cuts to child benefit