Barnardos urge investment in needy families

Barnardos said next month’s budget needs to mark the end of stringent cuts and the beginning of investment in vulnerable families.

Launching its pre-budget submission, the children’s charity said that vulnerable families had already borne the brunt of cuts and the Government needed to ensure no further harm was done.

Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay said the current row over pension entitlements, which he likened to “tax avoidance”, contrasted with the fact the budget could rive more children into hunger, cold, and fear.