The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul (SVP) has urged the Irish government not to cut child benefit in the forthcoming budget.
SVP Social Policy Development Officer Caroline
Fahey said, “Over the past number of budgets, it has been families with
children who have been hit again and again very hard and this looks like
yet another attack on the same group of people who cannot take any
more.”
Speaking about the SVP's position on the children’s allowance payment
to families she said, “All we are saying to the government is to leave
child benefit alone. That's all we are saying as we have no idea as of
yet what is been proposed.”
She added, “How would low income families
be protected? How would middle-income families be protected? Until we
see any concrete proposals beyond cut it we can't say anything other
than leave child benefit alone.”
Ms Fahey also revealed that the SVP is concerned about struggling families regardless of the background.
“We know that there are a lot more people struggling now than ever
before.”
She said that SVP would favour a payment to all families with
children particularly targeted at those with low incomes or who are on
Social Welfare.
“Child benefit has been cut several times, social welfare has been
reduced and low paid workers have been brought into the tax net. Most
of the households that we help out are families with children so it is
worrying for us.”
The SVP has said that it wants information made available on how many high-income earners get child benefit.
“Many middle income earners were struggling with outgoings as their
financial circumstances had changed. We are very worried that these
people will be hit as well as the people we are assisting. She also
revealed that over the last three years the SVP has seen an 80% increase
in the people they are assisting.”