A Social Report for Ireland Volume II - the NESC Website

children 15and Timonen (2003, 2005). Bradshaw and Finch found that while Ireland wasranked 5th of 22 countries when child related taxes and benefits were taken intoaccount, it fell to joint 11th (with the USA) when housing, childcare, health andeducation costs were taken into account. 9 The balance between income supportsand service provision for children is the subject of ongoing debate in the currenteconomic climate. This issue is addressed throughout the chapter in the varioussections charting trends across the well-being domains and the associated policycommitments. What is clear, however, is that there are many children and familiesin vulnerable situations, and for these families good service provision with adequateincome supports is vital to their well-being. NESC, in its Developmental WelfareState approach, has emphasised the ‘radical development of services as the singlemost important route to improving social protection (NESC, 2005a: xix).Figure 6.2 Public Spending on Family Benefits, International Comparisons, 2003Percentage of GDP4.54.03.53.02.52.01.51.00.50.0DenmarkFranceSwedenAustraliaNorwayIcelandCash Services Tax BreaksAustriaFinlandGermanyUKAverage Total (2.4%)IrelandBelgiumCzech RepublicNew ZealandNetherlandsSpainJapanUnited StatesCanadaMexicoKoreaSourceNoteOECD (2007) Social Expenditure Database‘Public spending’ presented here is that exclusively for families (child payments and allowances, parental leave benefits and childcare support).Spending in other social policy areas such as health and housing also assists families but is not recorded here.9. It is noted that the Early Childcare Supplement was introduced after this study was undertaken and there have been increases inother areas of child income support. There have been further changes in child income supports since the onset of the recession.