Budget 2025 must show real ambition to tackle gender inequality by investing in public services: NWC

Published: Monday, May 27, 2024

The National Women’s Council says public childcare is the only way to ensure affordable and accessible childcare for all

Ahead of the National Economic Dialogue (NED), the National Women’s Council (NWC) has said that Budget 2025, as the last budget of the current Government, presents an opportunity for government to support women by reforming and investing in key public services. NWC reiterates our call for public childcare as a crucial component in achieving gender equality.

Speaking ahead of the NED, NWC’s Head of Policy and Development Kate Mitchell said:  

“Women are facing a housing and homelessness crisis, and a complete lack of public services in terms of access to essential services like childcare, health and social care – and the ongoing effects of the climate and biodiversity emergency. There is an epidemic of violence against women, and a growth in far-right violence and hate, directed at the most marginalised in our society.

“2025 will be pivotal. To tackle the inequalities in our society, Government must be ambitious in its plans for Budget 2025, placing emphasis on large-scale investment and structural reform of public services, and not on tax cuts and minor tweaks.”

NWC’s Women’s Economic Equality Coordinator Donal Swan said:  

“Budget 2025 should focus on tackling the key budgetary issues facing women today, for an Ireland that is fair, equitable, and inclusive for all. It must deliver a public model of childcare. It must take steps to ending women’s homelessness and the wider housing crisis. It must ensure women have access to healthcare services which meet their specific needs. It must ensure a Just Transition which centres women’s voices. And it must ensure an adequate income for all women.  

“Only with vision, real ambition, and a commitment to gender equality can we achieve the Ireland we all want to see. Budget 2025 must show that ambition and investment.”

Ends/ 

For comment: Kate Mitchell and Donal Swan 

For more information, please contact Sinéad Nolan, NWC Communications and Social Media Coordinator on sineadn@nwci.ie

About NWC

The National Women’s Council is the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland, founded in 1973. We have over 190 member groups and a large and growing community of individual supporters.

The ambition of the National Women’s Council is an Ireland where every woman enjoys true equality and no woman is left behind. This ambition shapes and informs our work, and, with our living values, how we work.

We are a movement-building organisation rooted in our membership, working on the whole island of Ireland. We are also part of the international movement to protect and advance women’s and girls’ rights. Our purpose is to lead action for the achievement of women’s and girls’ equality through mobilising, influencing, and building solidarity. Find out more on www.nwci.ie