Child Benefit is our life line

Hello and welcome to the PACUB blog.  We're going to post up press releases, updates, information and anything else we can think of here, as we don't have a website this year.

So here's our first press release, issued on Thursday 14th October:

 'Child Benefit is our life line' say worried families

Worried families from all over Ireland are appalled at Government suggestions that child benefit will be cut again in this year’s Budget.  They are continuing to join the PACUB (Protest Against Child Unfriendly Budget) Facebook Group to oppose any change to child benefit.

During 2010 the situation for many families has worsened and even more are depending on child benefit to pay for basics like food and bills, to ensure that their children are properly nourished and live in homes that are warm and dry. Unlike the UK, Irish parents have many additional expenses that are not supplemented by the government such as school books, 'voluntary' school contributions, doctors bills, prescriptions and hospital fees. For many families who have absorbed job losses, loss of pay coupled with negative equity - child benefit has become a life line.

PACUB spokeswoman Niamh Kelly says:  “We oppose any cuts to child benefit as it is the only payment made to families in this country that recognises the extra cost of raising the next generation of tax payers.   More cuts will cause huge hardship for all families from all backgrounds.  We know that many families are finding it hard to pay for heating and electricity, so even a small cut and many more households will be facing into the winter with no heat or light.  Children are the innocent ones who will suffer the most from any reduction in child benefit.

“We do not accept the constant comparisons with child benefit in the UK as families there enjoy truly free education and health care as well as tax credits and lower prices.  A universal child benefit payment is relatively cheap and easy to administer and is fair to all children.  To those who say that child benefit should be taken away from rich families: we say just tax them more.  It’s easier, cheaper and more efficient.”

Protest by contacting TDs, Senators and MEPs.  This can be easily done using the website contact.ie.

About PACUB


PACUB  was established in April 2009 following the Supplementary Budget.  The Group represents families who were disproportionately targeted by the measures announced then and in the next budget.  More than 16,000 people signed on-line petitions and paper petitions, while hundreds posted protest letters to politicians and the media, or sent unused nappies to the Taoiseach to symbolise the huge cost of raising children in rip-off Ireland.  Angry mothers appeared on radio, TV and in the papers in order to send a clear message to the Government - leave child benefit alone.  They didn’t listen.


More information on PACUB on Facebook (search PACUB) or on the PACUB blog. Contact Niamh (085 782 6118), Sarah (086 3864871), Candi (085 1289 342) or Carol  (087 675 3734) or on email via protest4childbenefit@gmail.com