Budget 2019 has shown some efforts to tackle child poverty through much needed social welfare changes but failed to deliver the ambition and vision required to meet its own target of lifting 100,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020.
Posted on Tuesday 09 October 2018 in Press Releases, Advocacy
Budget 2019 has shown some efforts to tackle child poverty through much needed social welfare changes but failed to deliver the ambition and vision required to meet its own target of lifting 100,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020.
June Tinsley, Barnardos Head of Advocacy said: “It is clear this Budget represents a klaxon call for the start of the next election campaign. The Government has been sure to offer a little for everyone. Additional help for families accessing childcare, greater capitation funding for schools, further parental leave and increases in social welfare payments are all welcome. However, whether these measures and others will fully address the thousands of children who are homeless; or waiting months and even years to receive vital healthcare; or adequately support families living with disadvantage remains to be seen.”
“Any gains in childcare subsidies are welcome and must be stringently linked to provision of high quality care. Likewise the increase in parental leave is good news for families of new-borns. However, it is our understanding the parental leave announced today won’t come into effect until November 2019 meaning that more than three years into the Partnership Government it has achieved a tiny fraction of the 24 weeks it promised.
“Disappointingly, the Government’s continued reliance on the private rented sector to increase supply of homes remains and offers little comfort to those 3,700 children currently experiencing homelessness. Worryingly the extra funding for HAP tenancies doesn’t take into account that many HAP recipients find it impossible to find homes to rent within the HAP limits. Any investment in improving emergency accommodation standards is welcome; however family hubs, hotels and B&Bs are not a home. The Government should back up its investment with a commitment to a six month limit on emergency accommodation for children. The €1.25 billion investment announced for social housing must be backed up by more action than we’ve seen to date.
“The rise of €2.20 in the Qualified Child Increase is welcome and particularly the additional €5.20 for children over 12 years old, which is a measure Barnardos had called for. Increases in social welfare payments by €5 per week and a €25 increase in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will undoubtedly offer a little help to families; but they also highlight how this Budget could have achieved much more bang for its buck if the Government had more imagination. Just €20 million could have been spent on 540 additional family support workers nationally or free school books for all primary school children.
June Tinsley concluded: “It is clear Budget 2019 is a pre-election Budget and in focusing on appeasing those who vote it fails to adequately provide for and protect those who can’t vote, namely children. Barnardos asked the children we work with what they would like to see in this year’s Budget. Unsurprisingly they didn’t ask for a cut to USC; they wanted investment in schools, in helping young families and more homes for those with nowhere to live. The Government could have achieved much more if it looked beyond electioneering and listened to the people for whom Budget 2019 will have the greatest and longest lasting impact.“
