Threat to cut child allowances must be opposed by parents

THE Government’s threat to cut children’s allowances and take the early childcare supplement for under-fives away from parents will be vehemently opposed by every caring mother and father in this State.

It is grossly unjust, and as Kathy Sinnott pointed out (Letters, August 18), cutting back on children’s allowances has nothing to do with the good of children. Rather it is about kow-towing to our EU bosses.

Kathy Sinnott is absolutely correct when she says that our Government has decided, without ever asking parents or children by the way, that 90% of our children from three years of age will be in early education outside the home by 2010. This was decided when they signed up to the EU’s Barcelona Agreement in 2002 and now they are prepared to take the few bob off parents, already at the pin of their collars trying to make ends meet.