Sunday, November 04, 2012

SVP fears budget cuts will hit lone parents

The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul (SVP) has said that it fears December's budget will hit lone parents hardest, particularly those who are aiming to return to work.

Speaking at the weekend, the SVP head of Social Justice and Policy, John Mark McCafferty, said that lone parents suffered the most in the 2012 budget and there are real fears that they could be hit hardest again. 

In particular Mr McCafferty said that there could be a complete erosion of Welfare to Work supports, a move that would hit lone parents hardest.  

Speaking at the launch of the party's pre-budget submission, he also confirmed that SVP had sought an urgent meeting with the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD to make her aware of their concerns. 

He added that despite some of the rhetoric coming from government circles, the government is imposing severe hardship on those with the lowest incomes and the least resources.

According to SVP's pre-budget submission, more than 400,000 home visits are carried out by 10,500 SVP volunteers each year, and that many of these people have been hit by 30 different cuts that have been made due to the government's austerity programme. 

According to SVP, 175,000 households across the country are now struggling to pay mortgages, an estimated 200,000 households are now using moneylenders and 29,000 families are now on Family Income Supplement (FIS).

SVP also confirmed that its newly elected national President Geoff Meagher, has forwarded these statistics to the ECB / IMF / EU troika and asked them to review the Irish government’s austerity programme. 

The SVP also confirmed that it is spending more than €70 million annually to help people in need.