tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84982408295434127402024-02-18T23:41:16.196-08:00PACUBLeave Child Benefit AloneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-408965403021594062014-06-09T11:51:00.004-07:002014-06-09T11:51:58.550-07:00Take child benefit off the Rich, then watch it taken off the rest!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Take Child Benefit off the Rich, then watch it taken off the rest!</b></div>
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Today 9/6/2014 a piece was published in the Irish Independent under the headline: ''Cut child benefit for the rich, Government told.’’</div>
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This suggested that the Government would have the support of two out of three of the electorate if they introduced a means test for child benefit. Is PACUB surprised? No, because while reading the piece, which can be found here: <a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/cut-child-benefit-for-rich-government-told-30339020.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.<wbr></wbr>ie/irish-news/politics/cut-<wbr></wbr>child-benefit-for-rich-<wbr></wbr>government-told-30339020.html</a> one line stood out: ''Means testing of child benefit is particularly strongly supported by people on low incomes.’’ </div>
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Sadly, low income families, and maybe all families, including social welfare and middle income upwards, are under the belief that if we remove child benefit from the ''Rich”, then ours will be safe. Unfortunately that is not the case. The Ita Mangan report published in February 2013 stated that it was middle and low income families who would stand to lose the most, with lone parents being worst hit, if it was taxed or a two tiered system was introduced. </div>
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So if we support means testing, we are cutting off our nose to spite our faces, as it will be OUR children who will lose out. This is because there are not enough “Rich” people in receipt of child benefit to make enough savings. So the cut off point will have to be MUCH lower, and this was shown in the Mangan report. </div>
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We all know the impact of any cuts to child benefit, we know how it has become a major lifeline for many families in times of uncertainty, with increases in costs and taxes and reductions in income. It is also important to remember that Child Benefit is an investment in our future tax payers as it is the only payment made to ALL children in Ireland. It shows that we treat all children equally, and this should remain so. Children should not have to pay for the mistakes of adults. </div>
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PACUB wrote about why the State should not means test or tax child benefit <a href="http://pacub.blogspot.ie/2012/10/should-we-means-test-child-benefit.html" target="_blank">here</a> </div>
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Why all children should receive child benefit: <a href="http://www.lookingforbluesky.com/2011/02/why-every-family-deserves-child-benefit.html" target="_blank">here</a> </div>
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So please read, stop and think about the long term impact of allowing any more changes to child benefit. We need to say “no” and protect this investment in our children, before it is too late. </div>
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Links to Ita Mangan report :</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.welfare.ie/en/pressoffice/Pages/pr200213.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.welfare.ie/en/pressoffice/Pages/pr200213.aspx</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.herald.ie/news/child-benefit-cuts-to-hit-middleincome-families-29083844.html" target="_blank">http://www.herald.ie/news/<wbr></wbr>child-benefit-cuts-to-hit-<wbr></wbr>middleincome-families-<wbr></wbr>29083844.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">email via </span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><a href="mailto:protest4childbenefit@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">protest4childbenefit@<wbr></wbr>gmail.com</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-80073723312313331832013-10-09T02:22:00.000-07:002013-10-09T02:22:15.268-07:00Press release Stop the attack on child benefit <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="aqj"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">October 8 2013</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> _
PACUB - Protest against cuts to child benefit - is appealing to the government
to protect child benefit ahead of the upcoming budget. Over the last 4
budgets child benefit has been cut with larger families taking the biggest hit.<br />
<br />
Our message to the government is<br />
‘’Stop attacking children’’<br />
Our children are worth it.<br />
Child Benefit is not wasted money, it is an investment in our future. In
Ireland’s future.<br />
<br />
PACUB Spokesperson Niamh UiCheallaigh: "We would urge the government
to remember its duty to protect our most vulnerable, our children. So far cuts
to child benefit have had a detrimental effect on families. To put it
simply, families are suffering, and many are going hungry. They have
nothing more to give, parents are struggling to put food on the table, after 4
savage budgets. Many are struggling to exist, never mind live. Our children
should not have to live like this. We believe that families have been,
and still are being disproportionately targeted by the recent cutbacks.<br />
<br />
"We are acutely aware there is a recession; we have taken hits on the tax
front, higher levies, most of us have faced pay cuts – some of us have lost our
jobs. We saw the complete withdrawal of the Early Childcare Supplement and cuts
in child benefit during the past 4 budgets, all these combine to make it
impossible to cope with any further reductions or changes to child
benefit."<br />
<br />
PACUB spokeperson, Jane Mooney: "We have seen many reports over the last
few months, we know many children are going to school hungry. Many parents are
going to be faced with the reality of choosing to heat the house, or put food
on the table. With the high cost of living and cuts that have already taken
place, we have seen reports where many parents are choosing cheaper unhealthy
foods, not by choice, but because of necessity. We all know the consequences to
unhealthy eating and can see this costing the government more in the long term
with major health problems in the next few years. This is a reality across all
of Ireland for parents, we would urge TDs to come out and speak to families in
their local constituencies, see what it is really like outside the walls of
Leinster House before voting any cuts to child benefit. We would also
urge parents to speak to their local TD and tell them how it really is."<br />
<br />
PACUB spokesperson Hazel Haden says: "We have seen bigger families taking
the brunt of cuts in recent budgets and fear it will be the same again this
year. We know we have an ageing population and we need children to pay for the
pensions of <span class="aqj"><span data-term="goog_313718754" tabindex="0">tomorrow</span></span>,
our government will put people off having children as it's too expensive to
rear a family, and there are no tax incentives unlike in some other European
countries. We urge the government to maintain child benefit as it is, do
not penalise families anymore."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contact: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">If you
would like to get involved in the PACUB campaign visit Facebook</span> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406?fref=ts
or the PACUB blog <a href="http://pacub.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://pacub.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We are
also on twitter https://twitter.com/PACUB1<br />
<br />
Contact <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>email via <a href="mailto:protest4childbenefit@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">protest4childbenefit@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-49642812862062877622013-10-09T02:15:00.000-07:002013-10-09T02:15:58.265-07:00No more cuts to child benefit picture <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9/10/2013 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today we are asking every one to share this picture on facebook and twitter and to use it as your profile picture on till budget day in support of no more cuts to child benefit. please support and share far and wide </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9m7N_-zyjN5XIVAkZCRh-isYsbqbFWaoBaXwTpySsos2-Em97bUcbLdkTgDhlHagufIpEKJB6YrNTQIRAKF8ZqYao7emzZbd6msUS5ZJoSAOt5AxdnekUIpfa4OUJik1WXoIbYKoia-W2/s1600/PACUB+NO+MORE+CUTS+TO+CHILD+BENEFIT+take+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9m7N_-zyjN5XIVAkZCRh-isYsbqbFWaoBaXwTpySsos2-Em97bUcbLdkTgDhlHagufIpEKJB6YrNTQIRAKF8ZqYao7emzZbd6msUS5ZJoSAOt5AxdnekUIpfa4OUJik1WXoIbYKoia-W2/s320/PACUB+NO+MORE+CUTS+TO+CHILD+BENEFIT+take+2.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-36764334498542010662013-02-20T06:14:00.000-08:002013-02-20T06:14:17.602-08:00Mothers and children under attack againPress release:<br />
<br />
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> Mothers and children under attack again</span></span><br /><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"></span></span><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> <br />
PACUB, the group campaigning against cuts to child benefit, condemns
news that the only support for children may be taxed, or a new two tier
system introduced. Both options mean even more cuts, as families
continue to feel the huge strain of the recession, and following budget
2013 that saw the fourth cut in a row to child benefit. Many families
are left wondering again how they will cope.<br /> <br /> "We are still
reeling from this year's cuts, and already the Government is discussing
publicly how they can take more money off families in the next Budget,
it's unbelievable," says spokesperson Niamh Ui Cheallaigh. "Something
has to give, so many families are struggling to make ends meet, and are
already wondering how they will cope with a property tax, water charges,
and whatever the government dreams up next. Families have dug as deep
as they can and have no more to give. We say: please think before you
act, there are huge consequences to either option, and we would urge the
government to consider these before introducing either measure. Many
mothers would find it unfeasible to continue working if they lost
most/all of their child benefit, and we fear it would create poverty
traps too. Could a fair system be introduced? PACUB doesn't think so.
Both of these options do not take into account the outgoings or
particular circumstances of each individual family, and it will hit
young families particularly hard as they try to cope with the huge
expense of bringing up young children."<br /> <br /> PACUB looks forward to
reading the report in full, and having an opportunity to provide input
on the options under consideration, as they directly affect all our
children.</span></span></span></span></h5>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-43004925346483370582012-12-05T11:58:00.005-08:002012-12-05T11:58:59.270-08:00Savage attack on children and families in 2013 budget<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">Today the Government made the biggest cut yet to the only
payment to our children - child benefit, after slamming Fianna Fail for making
cuts when in opposition. Yet when they walked across the Dail how quickly
they forgot! Now we have broken promises and another year of harsh austerity
where many will now fall through the ice and drown in the mounting debts that
engulf them.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; min-height: 23.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">Children
will go hungry and cold, but apparently this is not the Government’s problem,
they do not seem to care. Today they have hit struggling families again;
they claimed they made it fair, they claimed that they are protecting the
vulnerable. They lied.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">"We are
struggling to see where children have been protected," says Pacub
Spokesperson Niamh Ui Cheallaigh. "Do cuts to child benefit,
increases in PRSI, cuts to the back to school allowance, cuts to medical card,
the new property tax, the increase of student fees, the taxing of maternity
benefit, do they protect children? We are being hit again from all angles,
where will it end!!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; min-height: 23.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">"This
Government has absolutely no measure of how bad things are on the ground. They
are living in a fantasy world. This budget is anti-family and
anti-child. So much for Labour promises to protect child benefit from any
more cuts. We have been left reeling and struggling to see how we will make
ends meet next year.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; min-height: 23.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">"We
will now see our economy shrink further, we will see more families fall into
poverty, more families lose their homes, more unable to keep working, more
unable to provide the basics, food and heat. Do our elected TD’s
care? It seems not!! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; min-height: 23.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">"This
is the worst budget yet for families and children. Children have been
savagely attacked again, and the Government chose to protect the wealthy and
target children again. They should hang their heads in shame."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">Come join us on facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-85798027030237476392012-11-26T14:43:00.000-08:002012-11-26T14:43:15.284-08:00Press Conference for Child Benefit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Date for your Diary </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">NWCI and PACUB will jointly host a Press Conference on the issue of child benefit on</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> November 30th at 10.30am in Buswells Hotel</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Children are NOT the cause of this recession but they are paying for it<br />NWCI and PACUB will make a joint appeal to Government to protect children</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you w<span style="font-size: large;">ould like to attend please contact <span style="font-size: large;">us on facebook se<span style="font-size: large;">arch PACUB<span style="font-size: large;">-<span style="font-size: large;">Protest against child unfriend<span style="font-size: large;">ly budget </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XIFHTswypfSdb0MS29gjV90NqbNo2nDa3rLdWMcCsjNpIqKYY7uZinIB7f1xx1oVxgeoVVb67NJRwQa9e-vaJTSdxQAx32H2eFzoSWkMVF5z7o8fUVywXd90VEq3FZcg-HrMefNofyzt/s1600/Date+for+your+Diary+Press+Conference-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XIFHTswypfSdb0MS29gjV90NqbNo2nDa3rLdWMcCsjNpIqKYY7uZinIB7f1xx1oVxgeoVVb67NJRwQa9e-vaJTSdxQAx32H2eFzoSWkMVF5z7o8fUVywXd90VEq3FZcg-HrMefNofyzt/s640/Date+for+your+Diary+Press+Conference-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-14689839457867002942012-11-10T07:53:00.001-08:002012-11-10T07:53:48.710-08:00€2 billion on child benefit is an investment not a cost.<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">Important please note, you are welcome to share and use the information contained in this blog, but please acknowledge PACUB when you do so, Thank you. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><u>€2 billion on child benefit is an
investment not a cost.</u> </span></b><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">Could someone please tell </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">Minister Joan Burton that child benefit is an
INVESTMENT not a <u>cost</u>?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;"> Recently<b> </b>in the Dail she <span style="font-size: large;">has been</span> hinting at further
cuts to child benefit, and the introduction of a two-tier system for child
benefit, with higher payments for lower earners and those relying on social
welfare payments<b>. </b></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">She then explained how much child benefit cost €2bn annually!! I guess
this is to cause aghast and outrage and gather support to obtain these
cuts. </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">I wonder has the government not considered the huge impact of cutting
the only payment that is an investment in our future tax payers. How this will
cost them in the long term….</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">Yesterday a report told how </span><b><span style="color: #222222;">10 per cent of Irish population are
living in food poverty</span></b><span style="color: #222222;">. </span><span style="color: #222222;">This study shows that those most at
risk of experiencing food poverty include those living on low incomes, families
with young children, and one-parent families. What was interesting was that
report author Caroline Carney said food poverty had fallen between 2005 and
2007, but the most recent data show it rising again after 2009.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">Surely this has been partly caused by the elimination of the Early
Childcare Supplement from Jan '10, the 10% cut to Irish child benefit in 2009,
and further cuts in 2010 and 2011, with larger families taking the brunt of the
cuts. This shows how cutting child benefit has had a negative impact on
children and their long term health and well-being.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">We all know the dangers of not eating correctly, and food that is
cheaper is often less healthy. The occasional treat is now becoming a
staple diet for many. In the longer term being unable to afford to eat well
could lead to ill health and higher rates of chronic diseases such as
osteoporosis, </span><u><span style="color: #2a58c2;">diabetes</span></u><span style="color: #222222;">, obesity and certain cancers heart disease. </span><a href="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/families-suffering-as-450000-cant-afford-to-eat-properly-3262193.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2a58c2;">http://www.independent.ie/national-news/families-suffering-as-450000-cant-afford-to-eat-properly-3262193.html</span></a><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">How much will this cost the state in future years? If our
children are eating badly now, they could be affected by these diseases at much
younger ages. What price will they pay in 20 years’ time? You are what
you eat.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">All the 'leaks' about possible cuts, followed by other TD’s saying ‘’no
decisions made yet,‘’ is having a very negative impact on our
economy. People are afraid, austerity is not working, and the longer the
government continues to cut child benefit, the longer we will wait for a
recovery, and it will increase the poverty bracket with more families falling
into it each year.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">We need children,
Ireland needs babies and lots of them: yesterday David Quinn wrote a piece on
why: ‘’ This is a disaster for the future of this country. It doesn't take a
genius to work out that the bigger a financial burden you place on young people
and young couples, the fewer children they will have.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">And the fewer
children they have, the fewer future taxpayers we will have. That spells
national and social bankruptcy.’’ </span><a href="http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/david-quinn-what-ireland-needs-is-a-lot-more-children-to-balance-generation-gap-3250280.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2a58c2;">http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/david-quinn-what-ireland-needs-is-a-lot-more-children-to-balance-generation-gap-3250280.html</span></a><span style="color: #2a58c2;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">I
agree strongly, we need to think very carefully about cutting child benefit
again before it is too late. In future years we may not have enough tax payers
to pay pensions, health care and may be TD’s wages and expenses.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">Child
benefit was a very progressive move when introduced and improved over the
years. Are we are now going to allow the government to cut again what has
become a life line for many families across all societies in Ireland? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">On the 22 of October we see a report from the </span>Irish League of Credit Union’s what’s Left? 1.3 million Adults
have less than 50 euro to spend when essential bills are paid for each
month. This shows how so many are on a
thin layer of ice that is getting thinner and thinner, we see the cost of
living increasing , extra taxes ,cuts to child benefit. Reducing family’s
disposable income further, which again see less spending in our economy keeping
us stuck in recession. With this
continued path the government is on it will be a long time before Ireland sees
prosperity again. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of these reports clearly show
how families are struggling and need a helping hand. Before it is too late,
Austerity is not working cutting the one reliable dependable payment for all
children will see many fall though the ice damaging our economy further.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;">The
government may save money short term, but this will cost them so much more in
the long term, and if we see many choosing not to have any children or les , we shall see this affecting the
government pensions in years to come,
when you add emigration into the mix, continued cuts to child benefit =
disaster. It does not take and expert in economics to understand the
consequences of our governments intended path...</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remember Invest in a<span style="font-size: large;"> child invest in a Nation</span></b></span></u> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you are concerned about cuts
to child benefit, get in touch with :</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">PACUB <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406">-https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Also Organisers of the March which took place on 3rd of October :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> https://www.facebook.com/2Parentsagainstchildbenefitcuts?fref=ts<a href="https://www.facebook.com/2Parentsagainstchildbenefitcuts?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/2Parentsagainstchildbenefitcuts?fref=ts</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Please also sign this petition<a href="http://www.causes.com/causes/795632-don-t-touch-our-child-benefit-irish-government/actions/1689390">http://www.causes.com/causes/795632-don-t-touch-our-child-benefit-irish-government/actions/1689390</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-58774063650166123122012-11-10T07:51:00.001-08:002012-11-10T07:51:25.591-08:00March <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">Important
please note, you are welcome to share and use the information contained
in this blog, but please acknowledge PACUB when you do so, Thank you.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></b></span></span>On saturday the <span style="font-size: large;">3rd <span style="font-size: large;">of November we dusted off the PACUB<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- protest against cuts to child benefit </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">ba</span>nner </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0SzdIXy8dfmrOCYxje1cvBrLlI-dM2eeWMLKd85YyALFDuYw2-gQd3r9AfB8tCvbTbtBzB5dOWV4OZSgm54i-pg-Z6aHmQaUb5MZNjrKwwp4uGD3lqlQ6TzX-U90rmGkSYkLQiKIR6HZ/s1600/PhotoGrid_1352557770114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0SzdIXy8dfmrOCYxje1cvBrLlI-dM2eeWMLKd85YyALFDuYw2-gQd3r9AfB8tCvbTbtBzB5dOWV4OZSgm54i-pg-Z6aHmQaUb5MZNjrKwwp4uGD3lqlQ6TzX-U90rmGkSYkLQiKIR6HZ/s400/PhotoGrid_1352557770114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">AND </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joined Organisers </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">''Parents against <span style="font-size: large;">C</span>hild <span style="font-size: large;">B</span>enefit<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Cuts'' </span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">We
Marched to Lenister house ,we were not thousands but we sounded like thousands. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> we were heard and supported,
over all a very positive day and we all agreed it was the start and we would continue
on fighting the Government against any cuts to child benefit. </span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Watch
out for both Banners again on the 24 of October when we March in solidarity
with other groups against cuts</span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Our
aim is to have our message heard </span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">''Leave
child Benefit alone ''</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Pacub would also like to say a huge well done to Parents against
child benefit cuts, who done an excellent job on organising the event.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b>not an eas<span style="font-size: small;">y job to do <span style="font-size: small;">w<span style="font-size: small;">ith no big support network<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>behind you<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Speech<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">,The first speaker Hazel from Parents against <span style="font-size: small;">child benefit cuts.</span></span></span> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-24300398613233377922012-10-10T15:48:00.001-07:002012-10-10T15:48:08.548-07:00Should we means test child benefit ?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we seem to be getting a lot of questions on means testing child benefit benefit, I thought it was time to share a piece written asking that very question!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u> ''Should we means test child benefit?''</u></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The
government has talked about this issue many times, and on Thursday the
19th of July the IMF said yes, means test it!!!! But is it the right
decision? That is the question.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As it stands,
child benefit is a universal payment made to all children regardless of
parental income. Is this a good thing? I think yes, it shows we value
all children, and we are investing in their well being and supporting
our future tax payers. It shows that we value all children equally,
regardless of social standing, and this should remain so. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But why should the rich get it I hear you ask!! Now <span>before
you all say yes, remove it from those that do not need it, let's think
about this and look at the bigger picture. What will this achieve? How
rich do you need to be? If we look at the very rich in the country with
children their number is very small, so will it save the money the
government want to save? No.... so they will have to lower the bar to
include more people. </span><span>The consequences of this will be that
people who need it will lose it, at a time when the cost of living is
still very high in Ireland, where childcare costs are on a par with the
cost of paying back a mortgage, so that many will give up work as they
can no longer afford childcare, to me this is a backward move as the
government will lose out on tax revenue and the potential job losses
that could affect creches and childminders as well will result in less
tax and increased dole queues. It will create poverty traps and widen
the poverty bracket. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This would reverse
the progressive moves that were made in recent years to reduce poverty
levels by increasing the amount paid. Some will argue that this may not
be the best way to target poverty levels, but gains were made
nonetheless. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now let's look at the rate of
child benefit. We are always told that child benefit is very high in
comparison with our EU counterparts and the rest of the world, when the
government is trying to justify cuts. Let's see if it is really that
good... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Child benefit is the ONLY payment made
towards children in this country, if we look at what other countries
invest, we can see that they receive a payment like child benefit, but
ALSO children are recognised in the tax system ( in Ireland you can get a
tax break for a race horse but not for a child) <span class="st">subsidized <em></em></span>childcare,
free health care and education. Will we see the government moving to be
more like this and bringing us up to standard? Again no, I think this
is a revenue collecting exercise, and no reinvestment will happen in the
foreseeable future. So by agreeing to means testing I can not help but
feel we are cutting off our nose to spite our face. </div>
<div>
<span><br /></span></div>
<div>
Instead<span> of
removing money from children, should we not take a look at their
parents' income, and ensure they are paying the right rate of tax. Also
it's long overdue to include recognising children in our tax system. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Many
groups have completed documents comparing Ireland to other EU
countries, and have found us substandard and below par, the OECD has
said we need to do more, and surveys run by the department of pensions
in the UK rated us very low compared to other countries. That was in
2008 before the cuts, so I would say we are further down the list now.
Below are some links supporting this :</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
OECD links </div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/12/0,3343,en_2649_34819_43545036_1_1_1_37419,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.oecd.org/document/<wbr></wbr>12/0,3343,en_2649_34819_<wbr></wbr>43545036_1_1_1_37419,00.html</a> <wbr></wbr>also <a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/18/0,3343,en_2649_37419_43584658_1_1_1_1,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.oecd.org/<wbr></wbr>document/18/0,3343,en_2649_<wbr></wbr>37419_43584658_1_1_1_1,00.html</a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrep174.pdf" target="_blank">http://research.dwp.gov.uk/<wbr></wbr>asd/asd5/rrep174.pdf</a></div>
<div>
The
above link is to a survey comparing child benefit packages in 22
countries, compiled by the Dept of Work and Pensions in the UK. It was
subsequently validated and used by the Australian authorities to benchmark their package.</div>
<div>
The key data is summarised at the start, pages 1 to 13.</div>
</div>
<div>
The
conclusion on page 13 is also key, it puts the countries into 4 groups
ranked in descending order (Leaders, 2nd, 3rd, Laggards). Ireland is in
the 3rd group. The main reason for this is the high cost of rearing
children and the dearth of services for children</div>
<div>
Also National women's council of Ireland </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1985461931">http://www.nwci.ie/download/</a><wbr></wbr><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1985461931">pdf/all_our_children_briefing_</a><wbr></wbr><a href="http://paper.pdf/">paper.pdf</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I could go on, there is a very long list of documentation supporting the idea of doing more for our children.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I
am also wondering why was it not suggested that the government take a
pay cut or abolish unvouched expenses and ensure receipts are handed in
before handing over monies. We <span>have failed miserably in
protecting children in this state, and this was the one area where we
have made progress, yet now we will regress and move backwards. An old
saying goes'' invest in a child invest in a nation."</span></div>
<div>
<span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span>The government should remember that before touching child benefit again. </span></div>
<div>
<span> </span></div>
<div>
<span>By Niamh Kelly PACUB member</span></div>
<div>
<span> </span></div>
<div>
<span>Links : </span></div>
<div>
<span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span>PACUB-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406</a></span></div>
<div>
<span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span>Sign the petition set up by Annemarie <a href="http://www.causes.com/causes/795632-don-t-touch-our-child-benefit-irish-government/actions/1689390">http://www.causes.com/causes/795632-don-t-touch-our-child-benefit-irish-government/actions/1689390</a></span></div>
<div>
<span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span>March on the 13 of October in Navan with Cassandra <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/277349175710042/?ref=ts&fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/events/277349175710042/?ref=ts&fref=ts</a></span></div>
<div>
<span><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span>March on the 3rd of November at 2 pm with Hazel <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/366657730075486/368721499869109/?comment_id=368723886535537&ref=notif&notif_t=event_mall_reply">https://www.facebook.com/events/366657730075486/368721499869109/?comment_id=368723886535537&ref=notif&notif_t=event_mall_reply</a></span></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-22341525524775827212012-10-08T02:57:00.000-07:002012-10-08T02:57:49.614-07:0025,000 say no more cuts to child benefit<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
A PACUB press release 8/10/12</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">
25,000 say no cuts to child benefit</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Enough is Enough: No more cuts to child benefit is the message from <b>25,450 </b>concerned
parents across Ireland, who have signed the petition started by
Annemarie Mc Nally Rice last week (details below). The total is
increasing hourly as more and more parents have had enough of threats of
more cuts to this most vital payment for all children.</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #2a2a2a; font: 13.0px Tahoma; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial;">''</span>I
set up a petition on 'causes' on Facebook and set a target to be
reached by December of 1,000.....just five days on and there are 25,000
signatures.......the comments left on the page mirror my horror, my
anger and my fear - the parents of Ireland have had enough. There can be
no more cuts, I am simply a Mom who is very worried about how much more
my family can take financially,'' says founder Annemarie Mc Nally Rice.</div>
<div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #2a2a2a; font: 13.0px Tahoma; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
PACUB
spokeswoman Niamh Kelly agrees: ''I urge all parents to sign this
petition and give our children a voice, which can not be silenced or
ignored''. </div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
It
does not end there, latest news on potential cuts to child benefit have
left many feeling angry and ready to protest by taking to the streets.
The <i>Parents against cuts to child benefit</i> march is being
organised by another concerned mum, Hazel Freeman Hayden: '' We need to
unite and show the government how scared and angry we are over more cuts
to child benefit.''</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
PACUB agrees with Hazel, our children are "Worth it", they are our future and we need to protect them.</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Another peaceful protest organised by<i> Save our Child Benefit</i>
will take place on Saturday 13th October. It shares the same message:
''Time to make a stand against our government who claims they are trying
to protect our children and how do they do this, by once again saying
they may make cuts to our child benefit,'' says founder Cassandra. (see
below)</div>
<div style="color: #440f4c; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #440f4c; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
''I
hope the government will sit up and listen, we are not going away''
says spokeswomen for PACUB, Niamh Kelly, ''we will fight to protect the
only payment made to all of Ireland's children.'' </div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
ENDS</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Contacts section</div>
<div>
<div>
<img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
PACUB - protest against cuts to child benefit </div>
<div style="color: #2a58c2; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/191987877489406" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>pages/Pacub-Protest-Against-<wbr></wbr>Cuts-to-Child-Benefit/<wbr></wbr>191987877489406</a></span><span style="color: #222222; text-decoration: underline;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Contact Niamh: 0857826118 </div>
<div style="color: #2a58c2; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Email: <a href="mailto:protest4childbenefit@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2a58c2; text-decoration: underline;">protest4childbenefit@gmail.com</span></a></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Petition, Do not touch our child benefit Irish government </div>
<div style="color: #2a58c2; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.causes.com/causes/795632-don-t-touch-our-child-benefit-irish-government/actions/1689390" target="_blank">http://www.causes.com/causes/<wbr></wbr>795632-don-t-touch-our-child-<wbr></wbr>benefit-irish-government/<wbr></wbr>actions/1689390</a></span><span style="color: #222222; text-decoration: underline;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #2a58c2; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Contact Annmarie: <a href="mailto:annemarie.rice@hotmail.co.uk" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2a58c2; text-decoration: underline;">annemarie.rice@hotmail.co.uk</span></a></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Protest 13th of October at 2pm in Navan, meeting point Exhibition Centre </div>
<div style="color: #2a58c2; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/277349175710042/?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>events/277349175710042/?ref=<wbr></wbr>ts&fref=ts</a></span></div>
<div style="color: #2a58c2; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Email Cassandra: <a href="mailto:saveourchildbenefit@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2a58c2; text-decoration: underline;">saveourchildbenefit@gmail.com</span></a></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
March 3rd of November at 12 noon meet at Parnell square organised by Parents against cuts to child benefit</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/366657730075486/?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2a58c2; text-decoration: underline;">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>events/366657730075486/?ref=<wbr></wbr>ts&fref=ts</span></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #2a58c2; font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Contact Hazel: <span style="color: #2a58c2; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:hlynhayden@gmail.com" target="_blank">hlynhayden@gmail.com</a></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-75880537383650572222011-12-05T10:59:00.000-08:002011-12-05T10:59:35.706-08:00Big Families Hit with Big Cuts - a PACUB press release<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">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.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">“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.”</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">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</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-74350282527230936272011-11-23T06:16:00.000-08:002011-11-23T06:16:08.828-08:00Families crushed under tsunami of latest cuts - A PACUB Press Release<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><i>PACUB condemns proposed third cut to child benefit</i></b></span></div><br />
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.<br />
<br />
Did children cause the recession? You would think so.<br />
<br />
Remember the Early Childcare Supplement? That was the first to go.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
“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.<br />
<br />
“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.”<br />
<br />
Protest by contacting TDs, Senators and MEPs. This can be easily done using the website <a href="http://contact.ie/">contact.ie</a>. Or by signing the <a href="http://www.barnardos.ie/knows/">petition from Barnardos</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-47166485219869448982010-12-08T02:48:00.000-08:002010-12-08T02:48:20.284-08:00Budget result: Bankers 1, Children 0<div align="CENTER" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>PACUB's press release condemns a Budget that targets children and benefits bankers</b></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
Children, the one group in Irish society that did not party, did not borrow recklessly, did not spend stupidly are being targeted to bear the brunt of the cuts in this cruel Budget which savagely targets children and their families. PACUB, the support group for families, condemns a Budget that is taking an axe to child benefit, tax credits and other essential supports for families and also increasing taxes and so many charges that they cannot avoid.<br />
<br />
“Many parents will try to protect their children by not telling them about this Budget and its effect on them,” says PACUB spokeswoman Niamh Kelly. “The children will not know about the presents they didn't receive, the extra help in school they needed, the healthy food they did not eat, the heating they did not enjoy. They will accept their lives as they live them, but they will be suffering, they will be missing out on opportunities that would enrich their lives and enhance their futures.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">These cuts will mean more children living in poverty, a backward move after all the progress in recent years. PACUB is also very disappointed that families with children on Social Welfare will not receive a compensatory increase in the qualified child allowance as they did last year. And what are the plans for 2012? It’s hard to believe that there will be even more cuts. We’re very afraid child benefit go the same way as the early childcare supplement : cut, cut, gone!<br />
<br />
“Children and their families are being hit from every angle, with social welfare cuts, cuts in education and health services, increases in charges and taxes. They are the sector of society being most unfairly targeted, but they will be left picking up the pieces.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0.5cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“Saddest of all will be the casualties, the families who have to leave their homes - to be rehoused at more cost to the State, the families that will break up, with all the trauma that causes to children, the suicides, the emigrations. Others will struggle on, but without hope. There is no vision in the Budget of a better and fairer Ireland at the end of the four year programme. Just pain.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-73887063839198899832010-11-24T15:25:00.000-08:002010-11-24T15:25:49.832-08:00Child Benefit RIP<div align="CENTER" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><i>PACUB says proposed abolition of child benefit is 'frightening'</i></div></span><br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
PACUB says the proposed abolition of child benefit in the National Recovery Plan published today November 24th, and its replacement by a new two-tier child income support scheme is ‘frightening’. Without any details of the new payments, parents are worried that the base rate of child income support for all but the poorest families could be quite low.</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have been living in fear for the past year, first we are told that we have turned a corner, but now it is nothing but doom and despair,” says PACUB spokeswoman Niamh Kelly. “Why can our Government not be straight with us, and tell us exactly what is happening with child benefit? We don't have the luxury of a bailout - I have four children and a fifth on the way, how am I going to pay for doctor's fees, nappies, prescriptions, shoes, food, school books? What do I tell my children this year for Christmas? I urge the Government to come out and at least be straight with Irish families.”</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Also published today, the Government’s own review* appears to support the contribution of the universal child benefit payment to children’s welfare, accepting that “child poverty did fall over the period of the review particularly at times when the level of (largely) universal support was increased. Child income support spending clearly contributed to the reduction in child poverty over the period of the review.” So why abolish it?<br />
<br />
*A Policy and Value for Money Review of Child Income Support<br />
and Associated Spending Programmes</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="CENTER" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This press release was issued on November 24th</i></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-25788281237615789372010-11-09T03:07:00.000-08:002010-11-09T03:07:23.646-08:00Let the children speak<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><b>PACUB launches a Christmas Wish Campaign for children</b></i></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A Christmas Wish Campaign for children is being launched by PACUB today, Tuesday 9th November 2010. Children are being encouraged to make or buy a Christmas card before November 22nd and write a message in it for An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD. PACUB will organise delivery of the cards in the run-up to the Budget.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The campaign aims to give a voice to all the children who are affected by the current recession and the opportunity to express in the card what they would wish from the Government this Christmas:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We know that children are worried from the many sad stories that have been pouring into PACUB,” says spokeswoman Jane Mooney. “Their activities are being cut, their clothes are getting too small and they wonder will Santa actually visit. They notice when the house is cold, when their mother is always crying, when the car is no longer parked outside, when their older brother leaves for a job in Canada.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">They see these things, but who is listening to our children? It's their future that is being decided by the cold calculations of the bond market. And now the only payment that succours our children is under threat again. We're pleading with this Government, do not target our children: Leave child benefit alone.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To take part in the Christmas Wish Campaign, just send a bought or made Christmas card with your child's wishes for this Christmas to: Carol Haslam, c/o Jenna's Flowers, Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Please post them as close to Monday 22nd November as possible to give time for them to be presented. Details of the children's wishes can be posted on the PACUB Facebook page, and a selection will be published on the blog at <a href="http://pacub.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">pacub.blogspot.com</a>.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><b>This press release from PACUB was issued today, Tuesday 9th November.</b></i></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-62192078204172101592010-11-05T09:06:00.000-07:002010-11-05T09:06:04.897-07:00Selling the furniture to pay the bills<i>This family are now selling their furniture to pay bills and put food on the table, and still they can't make ends meet:</i><br />
<br />
I am a mum of three children age 9, 5 and 7 months. Since I had my 3rd child I have been very unwell, suffering from post natal depression and have had a nervous breakdown. Not the best start really. I have not been able to return to work due to my illness, and currently rely on illness benefit and my child benefit to feed my family and pay my bills. My husband's contract ended in May and he was lucky enough to secure a new PAYE role but on a lot less salary than as a contractor. We have made cuts and cuts on our outgoings, cancelled our health insurance, cancelled everything, and are living on borrowed time. Every time the phone rings I dread to answer it as it’s yet another blocked number chasing us for money we just do not have. We have a huge mortgage and loans to pay back and we are getting nowhere. We have gone on interest only with the mortgage for 6 months but this will run out shortly because my husband’s salary holds him on the higher tax rate (he isn't earning that much more than the lower band). I fear I will lose my child benefit altogether and that means we won’t eat as there is nothing left. I constantly have to plan ahead on whether I can use my car as it might not have petrol in it and no money to put any in.<br />
<br />
My children are suffering as I have had to stop after school activities, can't afford them, have not been able to buy them new clothes this year, shoes etc so they are in last year’s, which are starting to look very small. My children ask me have we no money a lot, and I just don’t know what to tell them. We have sold everything we can, good jewellery, baby equipment not used, anything that will sell is sold to help pay off bills but it still isn’t enough. I have recently started selling furniture we can manage without, but I am getting very little for it. We are just running out of ideas to get cash. We have reduced all our payments with loans we hold, but we can barely pay the reduced amounts. Some financial houses won't even allow us reduce as they said we have nothing left to even make a payment so we are just defaulting on these. My husband recently had a bank threaten legal proceedings on the outstanding balance of a loan and we may go to court and tell the Judge we have nothing.<br />
<br />
My other issue is we haven’t money to pay road tax due on my husband’s car so he is soon going to get stopped and done for this but we just don’t know what to do. He is working so hard to keep his new job and I’m just falling apart at home. If they cut child benefit we are just ruined, we will have to consider leaving the country and ditching our loans which means we will never be able to come back to our home country.<br />
<br />
Hope this isn’t too scarey but it’s my story and I am currently in tears typing it. How did everything get so bad and why have we ruined our children’s future here?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-23346220433320904472010-11-04T06:27:00.000-07:002010-11-04T06:27:54.799-07:00When the recession takes it all away<div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Info"><span bindpoint="reportLinkWrapper" class="GBThreadMessageRow_ReportLink"><a class="action" href="http://www.facebook.com/ajax/report.php?type=9&cid=1643857412223&rid=545512185&h=AQAQWS2t1GhL1iwD" rel="dialog"></a></span> </div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body"> <div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content"><i>Life was good for one mother from Cork .... until the recession. This is her story:</i></div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content"><br />
In 2007 I fell pregnant with my daughter, who was born in April 2008. I worked for a solicitor, and my husband worked for a global computer company, so we both brought in enough money to be comfortable. </div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content"><br />
</div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content">I was due to return to work from Maternity Leave in October 2008, right when the recession hit Ireland. I was told that there was no job for me, as there were cut backs, I have been unemployed ever since, I've applied for jobs but no joy. </div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content"><br />
</div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content">My son was born last November, and we thought that as I was out of work it would make sense to have our children now, rather than put our family on hold because of the recession. My husband was in full time employment and with the child benefit every month, we made it work. My child benefit usually buys clothes for the kids every 3 months as they grow so fast, my son has been ill and his medication is expensive. Also I was diagnosed with Post Natal depression, so the child benefit contributes to this as well as heating oil for the house. My husband and I could live without the heating, but with a baby and a toddler it just isn't an option. </div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content"><br />
</div><div class="GBThreadMessageRow_Body_Content">Sadly my husband lost his job a couple of weeks ago so things are looking pretty grim now, the only hope we had for christmas was the child benefit, if it reduced we will be very badly affected, and I know a lot of other families will be even harder hit than us.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-16951874986308324442010-10-23T14:13:00.000-07:002010-10-23T14:13:05.002-07:00Europe needs babies...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...so why would Ireland remove child benefit from larger families?</span></span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Europe needs babies is the message from the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">European Parliament which voted in favour of extending both </span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1020/maternity_paternity.html" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">maternity and paternity leave </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></u></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this week. But here it was </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/big-families-face-brunt-of-cuts-to-child-benefit-2386832.html" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reported</span></span></a></u></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that child benefit could be cut for third and subsequent children in the December Budget, sending a wave of panic through larger families. PACUB is supporting these families in opposing </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">any</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> further cuts to child benefit for </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">any</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> group.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PACUB spokeswoman Niamh Kelly commented: “Parents are living in fear and dread of what's ahead. They are very concerned and scared, and many don't know how they will survive this winter and indeed the next 4 years.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
“Why are we here again? There are other ways to make the cuts that have been suggested without targeting our most valuable asset: our children. Only last year an OECD </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/18/0,3343,en_2649_37419_43584658_1_1_1_1,00.html" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">report</span></span></a></u></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> heavily criticised our lack of investment in our young. They say we need to do more, and the increases in child benefit a few years ago is just the first step.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
“Yet now we read that cuts are yet again planned, with bigger families being unfairly targeted. This completely contradicts the rationale for child benefit: When it was first introduced in 1946 by Sean Lemass it was to help bigger families with 3 or more children. It was expanded as a way for the country to invest in the next generation and the future of Ireland.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
“Parents will feel discriminated against and penalised for having more than two children, this latest idea does not take into account family background or expenses. Regardless of how many children they have, many families now feel that they are on a cliff edge struggling to hang on. Their fingers are slipping and come January 2011 many will fall if the government continues on its path to cut child benefit.”</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PACUB believes that families are being expected - again - to take the biggest hit in the proposed austerity measures. Families live in bigger houses, use more water, send their children to school, and visit doctors and hospitals more often. These are all areas that the Government is threatening to target! And they want our child benefit as well. Some commentators have described the Government's contribution of €150 a month to the cost of raising a child as 'a lot'. Perhaps these are these the same commentators that told us that the total cost of raising a child to 18 in Ireland is up to </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/surviving-the-recession/raising-children-can-be-extremely-expensive-1634030.html" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">€300,000</span></span></a></u></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - or €1,390 a month.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are plenty of alternatives to cutting child benefit, starting at the top with Dail salaries and expenses, followed by the introduction of a fairer tax system, removal of tax reliefs apart from mortgage tax relief and the abolition of unnecessary quangos. Those changes would make a big difference.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This press release was issued today</span></span></i></b></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-33787122052833891232010-10-22T09:13:00.000-07:002010-10-22T09:13:42.378-07:00Another family dreading Christmas<i>Christmas should be one of the best days of the year for families. Instead, while children are getting excited, their parents are desperately wondering what the December Budget will do to their fragile finances, and where they will find the money to make Christmas special this year. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Another mother tells her story:</i><br />
<br />
We are one of those middle income families with 'irresponsible consumer debt' as they're now calling it. We're struggling to pay a car loan that we took out before the recession as a necessary part of rural living with no public transport. The car was needed as my husband drives a three hour round trip to work to an area that has no bus or rail service. The cuts and levies that have already been imposed are already leaving us struggling. The child benefit is used in our home for grocery shopping. The children already wear hand me down clothes and we rarely go out, either as a couple or as a family. Neither my husband or myself smoke and we've cut back on pretty much everything we can at this stage. The only things left to give up are our bin collection and the TV. We have no savings and the thought of Christmas leaves me with a feeling of dread.<br />
<br />
I know we're lucky in that my husband is still employed but the constant worry is for how long. We have no family here and my husband works irregular shifts so even if part time work for me was an option, there aren't any jobs out there for me to do.<br />
<br />
I wonder if the government truly knows how bad it is for many of us?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-15274879190048949282010-10-20T12:08:00.000-07:002010-10-20T12:08:25.846-07:00Middle income families need child benefit too<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>As explained in a letter to Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. by a Cavan mother of four:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<pre><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear Sir,
I wanted to contact you directly, because at this time I am extremely
worried and annoyed at the prospect of the impending budget and what
that might do to my child benefit.
I and my husband are law abiding tax paying citizens, we have never
claimed for anything that we were not entitled too. It seems our only
crime is having children, which it is clear that this government does
not value. The greatest crime of all perhaps is that 3 of my 4 children
are triplets. Whilst I know that we receive an enhanced payment for our
children (currently €1198 per month) I would implore you that this money
is not used to pay for a lavish lifestyle or shoes and handbags. Every
cent of that money is used to pay for schooling (including the non
voluntary contributions!) feeding and clothing, I would also used this
money to pay bills. At the end of each month I don't have money left
over, indeed I shop in Lidl to make my euro stretch as far as it can. If
there is €10 in our account at the end of the month I am lucky.
My husband is a "middle income worker" currently on middle 50'sK and
the only income coming into the house. We do not qualify for medical
cards. My children cannot see the dentist, I simply do not have the
money per child to go and I am unable to go either and I seriously need
to! I dread it if we need to go to the doctor, how or where will I find
€45 plus prescription money, that's half of a week's grocery shopping. We
have an averaged sized house and whilst we carry a mortgage we are making
those payments.
However, if you slash our benefit, and introduce higher taxes or
property and water charges, I simply do not know how we will make ends
meet. Whilst I can appreciate that perhaps that sounds dramatic, it is
the truth and Christmas will be a very poor affair in this house.
Next year we have communion for our triplets, how will I afford even the
dresses which I know they would like? Forget holidays there won't be
any. Saving money for a rainy day...there isn't any.
My question then is this, how do you expect us to cope? A whole swathe
of middle class people have simply become the working poor, and if you
as a government constantly tax and take money from us, just how do you
expect to stimulate the spending and thus get us out of a downward spiral?
I know I am not alone, there are families all over Ireland like mine,
fearful of the budget, fearful of whether they will be able to continue
to live in their homes, be able to make ends meet.
Finally I am angry that this country's wealth has been squandered on the
banks. I am livid that this government rather than look to streamline the
quangos, committees and inefficient running of state departments, which
are rich for being targeted as a first line of spending cut. The
government would rather seek to take from the families of Ireland. Thus
perpetuating the story that cronyism is alive and well in Ireland. I
have lost my respect for this government and my faith in the country.
What have my children got to look forward too? Certainly not an
opportunity rich future.
</span></pre><pre><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sincerely,</span></pre><pre><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
</span></pre><pre><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sarah</span></pre>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-56601481031013922802010-10-19T14:29:00.000-07:002010-10-19T14:29:09.722-07:00Four children in a freezing cold houseLynda, a lone parent of four from Wexford, tells it like it is:<br />
<br />
<i>I've just sent this letter to all TD's, good to get it off my chest. But I'm sure they wont take a blind bit of notice! <br />
<br />
**I hope as you all sit there discussing cuts in child benefit in your nice warm offices that you think of my four children sitting in a freezing cold house as already with last years cuts and the rise in fuel prices, I cannot afford to buy any oil or coal to heat the house. I'm just about managing to keep my car (which is a necessity not a luxury) on the road.<br />
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I rely on my child benefit to get my children what they need for school & clothing, pay for their study, school bus & the 1 extra curricular activity each that they do. I have to say no if they ask to do anymore, as any other money I have just pays for food & keeps a roof over our heads. I don't drink, smoke or socialise, if I have any cash at all to spare I will try once a month to let the kids go into town with their friends & give them some spending money. <br />
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As you can see I am struggling, like a lot of other people in this country. You want to bring in water rates too, as well as cut child benefit, this will absolutely push me & many others over the edge financially, & I will be lucky to be able to put food on the table.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498240829543412740.post-42823489241128829562010-10-18T13:55:00.000-07:002010-10-18T14:44:17.203-07:00Child Benefit is our life line<i>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.</i><br />
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So here's our first press release, issued on Thursday 14th October: <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 'Child Benefit is our life line' say worried families</span></div><br />
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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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“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.”</div><div><br />
Protest by contacting TDs, Senators and MEPs. This can be easily done using the website <a href="http://contact.ie/" target="_blank">contact.ie</a>.<br />
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<i>About PACUB</i><br />
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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.<br />
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More information on PACUB on Facebook (search PACUB) or on the PACUB <a href="http://pacub.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. Contact Niamh (085 782 6118), Sarah (086 3864871), Candi (085 1289 342) or Carol (087 675 3734) or on email via <a href="mailto:protest4childbenefit@gmail.com" target="_blank">protest4childbenefit@gmail.com</a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188360666068958236noreply@blogger.com0