The Government has been urged to use the forthcoming Budget to address inequalities faced by women in the social welfare system.
The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) says there is little recognition in the system of women's unpaid caring work and women are still relying on their husbands for their own payments.
In its pre-Budget submission, the NWCI said the system needed to be changed so that full payments are made to women in their own right.
The council also called for the immediate introduction of a free universal pre-school place for all children aged three and four before they enter primary school.
Its submission urges the immediate full national roll-out of the Irish Cervical Screening Programme to all areas without further delay and the roll-out of the BreastCheck service.
The council wants an immediate allocation of €4.5 million announced in the Budget which will be dedicated "frontline responses" to violence against women.
The NWCI head of policy Orla O'Connor said the submission highlights where resources are urgently required to address the persistent inequalities and discrimination which women experience in Ireland.
She said the NWCI was calling on "Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to address these issues in Budget 2008 and in doing so, to deliver on promises which have already been made, yet again, to the women of Ireland".
