Where is Childcare in Budget 2008?

Published: Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Once again, Budget 2008 is a missed opportunity by the Government to establish a universal publicly funded childcare infrastructure,' stated Ms Orla O'Connor, NWCI Head of Policy.
The NWCI expressed dismay that less than €2 per week has been allocated for childcare costs in Budget 2008 given the current the costs for childcare are €170 - €190 per week. 'The Early Childcare Supplement is not the appropriate measure to make childcare affordable and will not alleviate the immense hardship on families to meet childcare costs. This particularly impacts on women's participation in all areas of society'

'The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) welcomes the increase in health expenditure, but urges the Government to target the increase in the Health budget to improving cancer care services for women and to prioritise financial support to access local, regional and national services' stated Ms O' Connor.

'Apart from pension payments, Budget 2008 makes no progress to end the discrimination against women in the social welfare system. 2008 will be another year where women will remain dependent on their husbands. They will still not receive full payments in their own right and will continue to receive a lower rate of social welfare.

'On other social welfare measures, the NWCI welcomes the increases in supports for Carers. On pensions, however, a €14 increase means that subsequent Budgets will have to have sharper increases in payment to meet the Government's election promises' concluded Ms O'Connor.