Cowen fails to tackle inequality and childcare package is a damp squib

THE Budget has singularly failed to redress any of the major inequities in society.

For example, those people trying to survive on social welfare, on an old age pension, or on the minimum wage will continue to live in poverty.

Even the much vaunted childcare package, designed as the cornerstone for the next election campaign, is a damp squib.

The money being provided is not only too little in total, but is spread in such a scatter gun fashion as to be totally useless to those most in need.

The second worrying factor about the childcare package is the almost total reliance on private sector suppliers where there will be no guarantee regarding quality, health and safety, or continuity of service.

The Budget also continues the policy of the privatisation of public services which has been a hallmark of this FF/PD Government over the last eight years.

Public money is again being transferred to private hospital operators, private nursing home builders and operators, and private childcare providers.

The extra finance going the third and fourth-level education sectors is also being directed in such a way as to ensure the almost total privatisation of research in those sectors. Lastly, at a time when the purchase of private housing is moving further away from many couples, and when the provision of social housing is, self-evidently, a complete failure, there are no Budget measures to end speculation in building land or to ensure delivery of adequate social housing.

This Budget, unfortunately, was about optics.

Paul Kinsella

53 Lorcan Grove

Santry

Dublin 9