The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul (SVP) has said that it fears
December's budget will hit lone parents hardest, particularly those who
are aiming to return to work.
Speaking at the weekend, the SVP head of Social Justice and Policy,
John Mark McCafferty, said that lone parents suffered the most in the
2012 budget and there are real fears that they could be hit hardest
again.
In particular Mr McCafferty said that there could be a complete
erosion of Welfare to Work supports, a move that would hit lone parents
hardest.
Speaking at the launch of the party's pre-budget submission,
he also confirmed that SVP had sought an urgent meeting with the
Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD to make her aware of
their concerns.
He added that despite some of the rhetoric coming from government
circles, the government is imposing severe hardship on those with the
lowest incomes and the least resources.
According to SVP's pre-budget submission, more than 400,000 home
visits are carried out by 10,500 SVP volunteers each year, and that many
of these people have been hit by 30 different cuts that have been made
due to the government's austerity programme.
According to SVP, 175,000 households across the country are now
struggling to pay mortgages, an estimated 200,000 households are now
using moneylenders and 29,000 families are now on Family Income
Supplement (FIS).
SVP also confirmed that its newly elected national President Geoff
Meagher, has forwarded these statistics to the ECB / IMF / EU troika and
asked them to review the Irish government’s austerity programme.
The SVP also confirmed that it is spending more than €70 million annually to help people in need.