Budget 2000 Measures needed to secure Partnership - Community and Voluntary Pillar set out demands
1 Dec 1999
Representatives of the eight groups in the Community and Voluntary Pillar of the Post Partnership 2000 negotiations have outlined a specific package of measures which should be delivered in this afternoon's budget. These demands which focus on social inclusion and taxation will, the Pillar said, go a long way to consolidate the support of their organisations for any new national agreement.
The Pillar view this budget as a unique opportunity to tackle the problems of poverty and social exclusion, and lay the foundations for a successful new national agreement.
Mike Allen, General Secretary of the INOU outlined the Pillar's demands on taxation and a social inclusion package.
'There is substantial room for further reductions in personal taxation, and we will be arguing that these must give maximum benefit to the lower paid. There needs to be a primary focus on increases in standard-rated Personal Tax Free Allowances with some increase in the standard rate band. Other measures to make work more rewarding for the lower paid will include completion of the move to tax credits and an increase in the thresholds for Family Income Supplement in line with tax cuts.
Tax relief is not the way to go on the childcare crisis. A substantial increase in child benefit coupled with a taxable parent's childcare payment is the only equitable mechanism for supporting all parents.
On specific social inclusion measures Mr.Allen said
'The budget must deliver on key areas in order to underpin confidence in the partnership process. These are:
* Increases in all basic social welfare payments to bring them in line with increases in average incomes
* Increase in "qualified adult" payments from 60% to 70% of the adult payment
* Ensuring that disadvantaged areas benefit from mainstream investment
* Interim funding to maintain Area Based Companies/Community Organisations and National Strategic Support for the LURD
We will also be assessing what this budget delivers on housing, training for the unemployed, disability, education and rural investment.'
The Community and Voluntary Pillar
The negotiation of Partnership 2000, for the first time, involved more than the employers, unions and farmers. The negotiation structure was divided into 4 Pillars: Employers , Trade Union, Farmers, Community and Voluntary .
The Community and Voluntary Pillar is made up of :
* Community Platform
* Conference Of Religious in Ireland
* Congress Network of Unemployed Centres
* Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed
* National Women's Council of Ireland
* National Youth Council of Ireland
* Protestant Aid
* St. Vincent de Paul
The INOU acts as secretariat to the eight organisations within the Community and Voluntary Pillar.
For further information contact
Noeleen Hartigan INOU Press Officer
01 856 0088 / 01 672 7058(h)
