Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

I support the motion. I thank the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which does tremendous work to support families and children, in particular. Its pre-budget submission shows that in 2010 there was a 36% increase in its workload in Dublin, 23% in the mid-west, 36% in Galway and 45% in Cork. It said items like food, fuel, education and housing costs were the main requests. Those most in need of help were households with children in particular, one parent families. It urges the Government to recognise the importance of child benefit in protecting children from poverty and hardship.

Barnardos specialises in this area and does a huge amount of work in less well-off communities. It also called on the Government not to touch child benefit. Some 90,000 children are living in consistent poverty, a figure which is expected to rise when new figures are released later this month. Barnardos states quite clearly that 90,000 children are going without things many of us take for granted, such as a hot meal or a chance to take part in activities like swimming or school trips.

These are the most vulnerable people in our society. Both Government parties promised to ensure vulnerable people would be protected in their election manifestoes. A cut in child benefit would be the direct opposite of that and I call on the Government to ensure that not alone is child benefit not cut, but supports are put in place for families.

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