Bord Snip Nua Slashes Women’s Equality

Published: Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The disastrous cuts to women's equality programmes proposed in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes would wreck hard won advances in the fight for women's equality and would be particularly devastating for women living in poor and marginalised communities throughout the country, say the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI). Cuts of 19%, 44% and 100% to programmes designed to address women's inequality, tackle violence against women, alleviate poverty and build communities, have been proposed in the Report. These programmes have already suffered substantial cuts to their funds. The NWCI represents over 150 women's groups around the country.

'We call on Government to place women, families and the development of communities at the core of all social and economic policy" said Susan Mc Kay, Director of the NWCI. "We appreciate the need for realistic and well thought out approaches to cost saving at this difficult time. However, targeting the most marginalised, slashing women's equality programmes and paralyzing national representative bodies, will do irreparable social damage at a time when community solidarity is essential for national recovery, " she said.