Sir, – I write on behalf of the Society of St Vincent de Paul to highlight our opposition to the measures announced in Budget 2012 which will reduce the incomes of one-parent families and which will make it more difficult in the longer term for lone parents to take up quality education, training and employment opportunities. Lone parents are the largest group requesting help in SVP regional offices around the country, and many are struggling with the cost of food, energy bills and education.
In 2010 half of all one-parent families in Ireland had to go without essentials such as adequate heating for the home, substantial meals, and appropriate clothing and footwear because they were unable to afford them.
SVP volunteers know that the lone parents we help are doing one of the most difficult jobs of all – that of raising children on a low income on their own. Our volunteers see the energy and determination of lone parents who return to education or training in order to increase their chances of finding employment that will give their family a better standard of living.
SVP is supportive of measures which would help lone parents to access quality employment that will lift them out of poverty and which allows paid work to be balanced with caring responsibilities in the best interest of the children concerned. Reforms were already in place which would see lone parents move from the One Parent Family Payment to seek education, training or employment when their youngest child turns 14.
Now that this age is to be reduced to seven years the question is where will the seven-year- old child of a lone parent working full time on a low income go – after school, at weekends and during school holidays? The SVP is ultimately concerned for the well-being of children and families, and a life on social welfare is in no one’s best interests. However, until the National Employment and Entitlements Service and SOLAS are established and prioritising the needs of lone parents, until comprehensive, accessible and affordable childcare and after- school care are available and until job growth returns to the economy, the status quo with regard to the age limit of 14 years for receipt of the One Parent Family Payment and the situation of lone parents who undertake part time work or Community Employment schemes must be maintained. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Despite the hyperbole of recent days, the fact remains that the social welfare rates announced in the budget are the same as those in place in 2007, and the cost of living has fallen significantly since then.
So in other words, those who depend on social welfare are better off today than they were even at the height of the McCreevy and Cowen giveaway budgets.
So why are so many people peddling this fantasy notion that people who depend on social welfare payments have suddenly been thrust into Dickensian squalor? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Billy Linehan (Opinion, December 8th) in criticising Patrick Nulty for resigning from the Labour Party claims that “ideology is for yesterday”.
I wish he was right, but the neo-liberal ideology of European-wide cuts to public services and the erosion of workers’ rights seems to be stronger than ever. I presume Mr Linehan only believes that the ideology of social justice and solidarity is for yesterday.
And in relation to any dishonesty in Mr Nulty resigning from Labour despite being elected on its ticket, I would suggest that by resigning over the Budget he was in fact representing the views of most Labour Party voters in Dublin 15. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – To achieve economic recovery we need to restore confidence. To restore confidence we need to bring the public finances under control. In other words, the recovery starts when the Budget is balanced. Given that most agree that a fiscal correction (and the pain that goes with it) is necessary, why is the Government stringing out our budgetary adjustment over several years? Failure to act quickly just ensures that the recession lasts longer. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Given the budgetary measures impact on people’s future well being, it was very appropriate to include Monday’s Budget information with the HEALTHplus supplement! – Yours, etc,