Child poverty ‘not tackled’

By Evelyn Ring

Combat Poverty had sought an increase of €17.60 in child benefit in order to meet the Government’s own target of €149 per child per month by 2005.

“The increase is less than is required to tackle child poverty. It is vital that the minister delivers on his commitment to meet the target in next year’s budget,” said director Helen Johnston.

The Children’s Rights Alliance said the Budget had been indifferent to the rights and needs of children.

Both the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed also expressed disappointment that there had been no increase in the child dependent allowance.

The allowance, which is a support to the poorest families, stays unchanged for the 11th year, although eligibility has been marginally widened so that 4,600 extra families will qualify for it.

SVP deputy president, Prof John Monaghan, said the minister had been clever in the way he announced the increase in child benefit: “He has admitted that the increase is not enough and will make it up next year.”

Frances Byrne of the End Child Poverty Coalition said the Government had promised to increase child benefit by €32 over 2003, 2004 and 2005 but had only given €24.

“As of Minister Cowen’s speech the Government owes the children of Ireland €8,” said Ms Byrne, who is also director of OPEN, the national network of lone parent groups.

And, she said, it was appalling that the Government had again frozen the child dependent allowance for another year.