Parents: Child benefit critical to families

ALMOST half of parents believe it would be an “absolute financial disaster” for their families if child benefit is cut in next week’s budget, a survey has revealed.

The survey was conducted by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) who claimed it showed the stark reality for many parents in the current economic crisis.

One parent said cutting child benefit would mean she could no longer work because she could not afford childcare.

Another said that without it, her budget would be stretched even tighter and she would not be able to make ends meet.

“The views that we received through this survey from our member organisations are that parents are literally struggling to make ends meet at the moment,” said NWCI head of policy, Orla O’Connor.

More than six out of 10 parents regarded it as a critical part of family income while almost 30% regarded it as an important part. Just 5% described it as a minor part of family income.

A quarter of parents regarded child benefit as their “survival cushion” — 12% say they could not afford childcare without it.

The survey, based on the views of 200 women’s council members, also found that child care provision was one area where costs were not falling.

Just 3% of parents said that child care costs had fallen since December last, 49.4% said costs had increased and 47.6% said they remained the same.

Ms O’Connor said payments to parents must be protected in next week’s budget. “Child benefit and early years supplement are the only supports to parents to pay for all the costs of rearing children, including childcare.”

Meanwhile, Children’s Rights Alliance chief executive Jillian van Turnhout said the childhoods of a generation could not be put on the long finger.

Ms van Turnhout said the Government should not victimise children in the budget and pleaded with politicians not to roll back on valuable progress and hard-fought commitments to children.

“Children didn’t cause this crisis and they should not have to pay for it,” she said yesterday at the first Children’s Rights Alliance symposium in Dublin Castle.

“Investing in children reduces criminality and improves the life chances of all, particularly those from disadvantaged communities,” she said.