Big Families Hit with Big Cuts - a PACUB press release

Big families are being punished for a crime they did not commit through punitive cuts to child benefit.  By further reducing child benefit for the third and subsequent children, the  Government is cutting child benefit, without 'cutting' child benefit.  PACUB, the support group for families, condemns this conjuror's trick, which will hit larger families severely, when they are already at a greater risk of poverty.

“It seems that this change has been introduced to enable the Government to claim that child benefit rates have not been reduced - to fit in with election promises perhaps?,” says PACUB spokeswoman Niamh Kelly.  “Once again promises to protect the most vulnerable are being trotted out and we wonder how different is this Government to the last one.  Children are among the most vulnerable group in society and yet again they are being targeted.  Not just through these cuts to child benefit, but also reductions in fuel allowances and one parent family payments, as well as extra charges for the health and education services that families use.  I noted that the Government was claiming that an ageing population was adding an extra burden onto the health services.  Well that is why we need more children   Investing in our children is investing in our future, but  this Budget will deter families from having more children as well as penalising those who do.”

Reducing child benefit for larger families is also contrary to the vision of Sean Lemass who originally introduced a universal allowance for the third and subsequent children in a family. 

Families crushed under tsunami of latest cuts - A PACUB Press Release

PACUB condemns proposed third cut to child benefit

Children are under attack again. Budget proposals show that the new Government may abandon election promises to protect current levels of child benefit and continue to slash supports for families.

Did children cause the recession? You would think so.

Remember the Early Childcare Supplement? That was the first to go.

PACUB campaigned against cuts to Child Benefit in 2009 and we warned that if the Government cut it once, they would cut it again. And sadly we were proved right.

Since 2009 a working family with two children under 5 has lost €2,624 a year, at a time when bills are going up and incomes are going down. Now they may face further cuts of €240.

“It is criminal that this Government which promised so much is to target children once again,” says PACUB spokeswoman Niamh Kelly. “All the proposed savings are to essential services and benefits that support families. There has been no mention of removing reliefs or increasing taxes on the wealthy. Instead we are constantly told that the Government has to choose. And the choices are always unpleasant. Cut child benefit or cut the old age pension? Charge for medical cards or make more SNA's redundant? Close nursing homes or close hospital beds? It is pitting one group in need against another, while the wealthy remain above it all.

“Once again we hear Government Ministers vowing to 'protect the most vulnerable'. Cutting child benefit is NOT protecting the most vulnerable. It is damning more children to poor food, cold homes and a cheerless Christmas.”

Protest by contacting TDs, Senators and MEPs. This can be easily done using the website contact.ie. Or by signing the petition from Barnardos.