I am writing to you to express not only my frustration with your recent policy change regarding Lone Parent Allowance, but because of my fear of the policies you and your Department for ‘Social Protection’ continue to unleash on low income (or no income), marginalised people and families in this country.
Today 9,000 families will lose their Lone Parent Allowance. The majority of one parent families in Ireland consist of a mother and her child or children. This cut and previous cuts relating to children and one parent families are a direct attack on women and children and only exacerbate poverty and inequality in this country.
You say cutting one parent allowance at 7 years of age will encourage parents back in to the labour market. At age 7 is a child completely independent and self-sufficient? When her child is 7 years old will a mother suddenly have access to a new, more flexible and equalitarian labour market? At age 7 do decent jobs suddenly fit the 9 to 3pm school schedule? At age 7 will free childcare be available to all who work outside of school hours or when a child is sick?
Work traditionally done by women has never been seen as work in this country. Why? It doesn’t directly generate income. Cooking, cleaning, budgeting, home care and childrearing have always been undervalued and dismissed, never considered work. The number of hours of care given for FREE by mothers, fathers and family carers in this country is countless. This is skilled work. It is exhausting work. It is unpaid work.
I understand the quandary you’re in. If you and your government admit that the work parents do IS work then you will have to pay them. If you admit that caring for children (the future labour force and taxpayers by the way) is valuable work, then you’ll actually have to support a cross the board minimum salary increase for child care workers. Care workers who are undervalued and underappreciated by your Government. It seems to me the only people who understand the value of care are the owners of care facilities who charge extortionate fees.
Life you see is not just about surviving Minister. From your experience, I think you know that. Life is about thriving. I know you’ve worked hard. But so did all those women whose backs you broke and shoulders you strained from climbing up on them to get to the top. You are praised for being a woman in power, a woman in Labour. Labour? Ha. You wouldn’t know work if it came up and asked you to change a nappy.
I don’t think it is fair for you to claim your victory for women as you continue to widen the poverty gap, the inequality gap and deny those in low income households to ever have the chance you did, to thrive.
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