11th July 2023 Barnardos is calling for the introduction of a targeted approach for vulnerable children and families in Budget 2024.
In their Pre-Budget Submission the children’s charity is calling on the Government to focus measures towards providing the most vulnerable families and children with a decent standard of living.
A recent survey in May this year, commissioned by Barnardos found that almost one quarter (24%) of parents are very worried about having enough money over the next six months to meet the needs of their children. Only one in five said they were not worried at all.
‘Government (once -off) supports are a great help, but we know it’s not going to last, and we know we won’t stay afloat or be able to manage when they come to an end.’ Parent
Budget 2024 provides an opportunity to better protect children and families in Ireland. Targeted measures need to be introduced to meet the current need of children and families) and to reduce the likelihood of more children being pulled into deprivation and reduce financial pressures placed on parents.
1. Income supports
Recommendation: The government must increase core social welfare rates by €25 and increase the Qualified Child Increase Payment by €15 for over 12s and €10 for under 12s.
Recommendation: Provide an additional once -off targeted lump sum to low income families most at risk of going without heating this coming winter.
2. Reducing cost of education
Recommendation: Retain the increase to the Back to School Allowance and expand free school books to post primary level. Provide schools with sufficient funding to cover their costs so that they no longer have to rely on the voluntary contributions of parents.
3. Family homelessness
Recommendation: The maximum rent limit on HAP properties should be urgently increased to realistically reflect increases in market rents over the last 6 years.
4. Family and parental supports
Recommendation: Restore the annual cost of living increase for voluntary and community sector organisations and begin the expansion of family support services covering the full costs for current and new service provision.
5. Early learning and childcare
Recommendation: Increase subsidies for low-income families to provide equitable access to early years and after school care for children.
6. Enhancing participation in culture, arts and sport
Recommendation: Develop a social and cultural activity fund to enable children in low-income homes to access subsidised rates to sporting and cultural activities.
Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly said: “The measures taken by the Government over the past 18 months to protect families from rapid cost of living increases will have helped many children across the country.
However, it is shameful that more children are being pulled into poverty and not enjoying a decent standard of living. There have been insufficient targeted supports put in place to allow all families live in dignity and relieve the constant financial pressure and distress many parents experience.
It is vital that Government take the opportunity in Budget 2024 to do the right thing to ensure that this winter all children in Ireland, at an absolute minimum, live in homes that have sufficient food, are appropriately heated, and that families can afford the electricity they need to run their home.
Resources must be focused on those most at risk of going without. We know that childhood lasts a lifetime – the longer a child spends living a household without essentials, the greater the impact on their current and future wellbeing and development.”
ENDS:
Notes to editors:
Barnardos Pre Budget Submission – here
For further information, please contact:
Barnardos Press Office: 086 0445966
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About Barnardos
Barnardos’ mission is to deliver services and work with families, communities, and our partners to transform the lives of vulnerable children who are affected by adverse childhood experiences. Because childhood lasts a lifetime. https://www.barnardos.ie