The big squeeze

Women and children bore the brunt of Michael Noonan’s €3.5bn budget blast of cuts and tax spikes, already branded an austerity assault on the family.

The slashing of child benefit payments to €130 a month for all families was made harsher by unexpected cuts to back-to-school allowances, tax slapped on maternity benefit for the first time, and a sharp cut in respite care payments which is expected to disproportionately impact on women.

The hard-hitting austerity punch to the pocket also saw steep rises in PRSI payments — another measure likely to hit low-earning women hardest.