LIMERICK parents have described as “insulting” proposals to allow people who rejoin the workforce keep €30 a week per child of their social welfare allowance.
Under changes budget being drawn up by Tánaiste Joan Burton, a parent who takes a low-paid job would be able to keep welfare payments – known as qualified child increases – worth up to €30 per child a week.
Those who qualify would be entitled to hold on to the payment for up to three years, although it would reduce gradually over this time.
But for parents who will have to pay for childcare should they return to work the amount is a pittance, Limerick support group for separated parents, Families, has said.
In a week where the group – originally set up to support separated men who were denied access to their children – were holding their first group meeting for separated mothers, spokesman Joe Wallace said the parents who use the service regard the move as “an insult”.
“We’ve heard from people involved with our service on the issue and they say it is an insult. The women particularly are angry about it. Parents are being offered €30 a week for each child to go into low-paid employment but the mothers here tell us it costs an average of €30 a day to put a child into a crèche”.
Mr Wallace said that families experiencing poverty need real issues addressed. “This is no real incentive for people to go back to work. You have to ask who comes up with these bright ideas? Who is going to take a job and be delighted to keep €30 a week when it costs that much to put a child in care for a day?”
“In order to make work pay, we know that the biggest difficulties are experienced by those with children,” Ms Burton said. “This will provide a significant additional financial incentive for these families, particularly if a parent is heading into an entry-level job.”
The Tánaiste said details were still being worked on, but had the support of the Fine Gael party.
