Sir, - The controversy and confusion over the Budget tells us a lot about the way in which our political leaders view children. It tells us even more about their attitude to children who are poor.
Although the "U-turn" is now under way, the thrust of the Budget, with its cut in the top tax rates but miserly social welfare increases, seemed to suggest that those who are benefiting most from our current economic success are more "deserving" of further financial aid from the State than, for example, the 200,000 or more children living in poverty. This Budget indicates the interests of children clearly cannot compete with the interests of the market.
Far more important than the individualisation controversy are the obvious inequities. Children in welfare dependent families will gain less than £2 a week; taxpayers will get £20 a week and more. The Combat Poverty Agency has pointed out that for every £11 spent on tax and welfare changes, only £1 was provided for children. And if the top rates had not been cut, Government would have been able to increase child benefit by a further £12 to £15 per month.
I could go on, but the essential point is this: in this Budget rich people did better than those living in poverty and resources were targeted more at adults than at children. So if you happen to be poor and a child, you fared worst of all. And I had thought we were finally putting the scandal of this State's treatment of children behind us!
All children, those with working and non-working parents, are entitled to a proper level of State income support. The best way to provide this is by a substantial increase in child benefit. Indeed, it is an extraordinary commentary on the way we view children that we have had for over 10 years now an established target for rates of social welfare payments to adults, and a soon-to-be-introduced minimum wage, yet we have no agreed target for an adequate level of child income support or a time-scale for its introduction. Now that is something Government, and the social partners, should really get worked up about. - Yours, etc., Owen Keenan,
Chief Executive, Barnardos, Christchurch Square, Dublin 8.