Pre and Post Budget Submissions

Children and young people have borne the brunt of many of the policy decisions made in Budget 2010. Contrary to the Minister’s belief that the budgetary measures for 2010 will ensure a start to economic recovery, NYCI believe their impact will have devastating consequences for many children and young people especially those living in low income families. Of particular concern are the excessive cuts to Job seeker’s allowance for young people aged 20 – 24 and the reduction in Child Benefit which has been reduced by €16 a month and a reduction of social welfare payments for those of working age by 4.1%. These cuts will impact greatly on many children and young people.

In this submission, NYCI outline what we believe to be priorities for Government action and spending:

1.Youth Work Funding

• Assist the Youth Work sector to support the most vulnerable and marginalised young people through the recession by maintaining funding at existing levels with a small increase of 1.7%

2.Fund Part-time Fees

• Establish a fund to alleviate part-time fees for employees attending public institutions to ensure the provision of education and training for people vulnerable to redundancy.

3.Address Youth Unemployment

• Maintain existing rate of social welfare payments for young people aged 20-24 in receipt of the Job Seekers Allowance.

4.Promote Young People’s Positive Mental Health

• Continue to support the implementation of the ASIST1 programme and roll out of the “Your Mental Health” Campaign directed towards young people.

This document sets out NYCI’s analysis and response to the Government’s announcements, based on our Pre-Budget 2009 Submission – “From Commitments to Action”

Summary of Recommendations:

As we enter into the third year of the Social Partnership agreement and the second year of the implementation of the Programme for Government, NYCI urges the Government to honour its commitments in both agreements. Of particular concern to NYCI is the need to ensure sustained investment in the areas outlined below to ensure that we continue to address and improve the well being and lives of children and young people in 2009.

1. Address Educational Disadvantage:

• Adequately Resource the Nationwide Education Welfare Service.
• Establish a €20million Scheme for Approved Part-Time Courses.

2. Invest in Youth Work:

• Build on the investment of the last number of years and ensure we maintain the levels of services and supports for young people.
• Meet the cost of living increases of youth organisations by increasing the funding for the youth service grant scheme and the youth work sector by 5% (€2m) in Budget 2009.

3. Promote Young People’s Health:

• Implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to double the income threshold limits for the full medical card for the parents of children under 6 in Budget 2009.
• Increase funding to the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

4. End Child Poverty:

• Increase Qualified Child Allowance by €4 to €28 per week and by a further €4 per week to €32 for children aged 12 +.

5. Protect the rights of Young People within the Private Rented Sector:

• Abolish the current differential in the rent tax relief available to those under and over 55 by providing the same tax relief to all claimants.
• Invest adequate resources for inspections and enforcement of regulations to ensure greater compliance with the revised standards for the private rented sector.

6. Encourage Active Citizenship:

• Invest in the implementation of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship, with a particular emphasis on actions and measures to promote and foster active citizenship amongst young people.