Barnardos urges Govt to invest in children rather than cut USC in Budget
The Government needs to end child poverty by investing in services, not cutting taxes, according to Barnardos.
The children's charity claims it is a question of political priorities and long-term vision, over the short-term benefit of making people happy with tax cuts in the Budget.
Head of Advocacy, June Tinsley said it is a national scandal that one in nine children live in consistent poverty.
She said: "A 1% cut in USC would cost the State €300m which would mean an extra €3 a week in people's pockets.
"For the same amount of money the Government could introduce a subsidised system of childcare, deliver 2,000 social housing units and provide free school books and classroom resources for all children.
"So for us it makes sound economic sense to get greater bang for your buck and improve the lives of a lot more children."
