Sir, - Last week parents received the Children's Allowance increases awarded by the Government in last year's Budget. It is unacceptable that parents have had to wait until September, after their children have all returned to school, to receive these increases which were actually awarded to them over nine months ago. This is now the only social welfare payment which has not benefited from its increases being brought forward to May.
To many parents, the increases came too late as August was a very expensive month when they had to splash out on clothes and books, for the new school year.
Inflation has also eaten into the value of these increases before families even receive them. The continuing rise in the cost of living, with inflation now over 6 per cent, has virtually wiped out this increase for the lower-paid, the unemployed and lone parents. As this year's Budget looms closer, it's time Charlie McCreevy addressed this issue seriously by increasing child benefit to realistic levels. Yours, etc.,
Joan Rainey, Beechlawn, Maugheraboy, Sligo.