Many of the cuts that have hit households in the rest of the UK have yet to be inflicted on Northern Ireland. For years, politicians in Stormont were deadlocked, with each party refusing to implement the cuts. As the deadlines for implementation of the Welfare Reform Bill rolled round, Westminster imposed higher and higher fines whenever Northern Irish politicians refused to roll out the cuts. But finally, an agreement was reached, and the cuts look set to begin.
Women will inevitably be hardest hit when the axe falls, as mooted, jobs cuts are targeting low paid, part-time work. “Women are facing cuts to childcare places and jobs – 177 jobs lost and 2,500 children without early years places in Northern Ireland,” Orlaith Hendron, a women’s sector lobbyist at the Women’s Resource and Development Agency said. Schemes that aim to lift women out of poverty through gaining new skills and qualifications are also at risk. “Cuts to the European Social Fund mean that education programs like GCSEs and other accredited courses run through women’s centres will also cease.”
Karen Sweeney, director of the charity Women’s Support Network said funding cuts would mean the loss of 56 full time posts, and over 140 part-time posts, throughout the women’s sector in Northern Ireland, including domestic violence refuges, help lines, employment support and training, and childcare services. A total of 4,192 women will lose out on childcare and training to help them into employment, once the cuts are enacted.
