UMBRELLA GROUPS REPRESENTING the country’s charities say that they want to see funding restored to their sector before any tax cuts in next month’s Budget.

At a joint press briefing today, representatives of The Wheel, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Care Alliance Ireland, Irish Rural Link, the National Youth Council of Ireland and Carmichael Centre for voluntary groups all called on the government to restore funding to sector.

A survey by The Wheel in May showed that 59% of charities have seen income fall in the last year, with demand increasing.

Speaking about the upcoming Budget, Ivan Cooper of The Wheel said that he was “unequivocally” against tax cuts if funding for services wasn’t restored.

He cited a recent RedC poll in which 66% of people said that tax cuts shouldn’t come at the expense of services.

“Recent Budgets have focused on achieving sustainability in our national finances, but we must acknowledge that this has come at an enormous cost for those who rely on public services.”

The Care Alliance’s Liam O’Sullivan called for a reversal of the 19% cut to the respite care grant, while the Disability Federation’s John Dolan called for adequate funding to be restored to the sector.

Seamus Boland of Rural Link said that the group wanted grants for students to be re-examined, saying that the current system makes it difficult for rural students.

The six organisations called on the government to implement a cross-departmental strategy to return funding to them, warning that the “social fabric” of Ireland was in danger.

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