NWCI calls on Oireachtas to reject the Social Welfare Bill

Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009

Press Statement

Friday 11th December 2009

NWCI calls on Oireachtas to reject the Social Welfare Bill

'Cuts proposed in Budget 2010 will be devastating for women and children, with cuts to Child Benefit, to lone parents payment, to maternity Benefit, and to Carers payments,' according to Orla O'Connor, the National Women's Council's Head of Policy. 'Members of the Oireachtas who have an ounce of integrity should reject today the new Social Welfare Bill. The Government has made clear political choices in this Budget - to protect the wealthy and blame those who benefitted the least from the 'boom years'. Why has the Government decided to cut the income of a woman on social welfare living just above the poverty line and to make no cut to those earning more than €100,000 per anum? The Government has lied to the Irish people saying they will protect the most vulnerable' she continued.

The National Women's Council has deplored the cut to Child Benefit as families are relying on this payment now more than ever. If this Bill is passed today many women will be forced out of employment as they will not be able to afford to remain in employment and pay childcare costs. Clerical workers earning less than €35,000 per annum, the vast majority of whom are women, will receive cuts of 5% to pay and 10% to Child benefit. This is grossly unfair. 'The compensatory measures for Child Benefit will be irrelevant to many, as many families living on low incomes are not eligible for Family Income Supplement (FIS). The self employed and many families with 1-2 children who have already experienced reduced hours will find their incomes are just above the FIS threshold and will bear the full brunt of reduced child benefit' she concluded.

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