Women’s network coming together in a national collective

AN organisation for women’s networks throughout the country is set to be launched in Ennis next week.

The South and Mid-West Region of the National Collective of Community-based Women’s Networks (NCCWN) will be launched on Friday, November 9 in the Temple Gate Hotel.

At the launch, the Clare Women’s Network will be joined by the Limerick Women’s Network and the South West Kerry Women’s Network to discuss the topic of Recession – Where are the Women?

The National Collective of Community-based women’s networks is a nationwide umbrella organisation for women’s networks throughout Ireland. It is funded under the Local Community Development Programme. Miriam Holt, national co-ordinator of the NCCWN, who will be speaking at the event stated, “I am delighted to be officially launching the South and Mid-West Region of the NCCWN at this event and getting an opportunity to be discussing such important issues with women from Clare, Limerick and Kerry. This is a very important time for women in Ireland.”

Other speakers include Ann Marie Flanagan, regional development officer with Shine, who supports people with mental ill health and their family and friends, while Ann Higgins from the University of Limerick will be speaking about educational disadvantage.

“Women have been disproportionately affected by the policies imposed by Government departments,” stated Elaine D’Alton of the Clare Women’s Network, “This is clear in the way the cuts have been implemented. Since the economic crisis broke in 2008, there have been reductions in child benefit; carer’s allowance; disability payment and blind pension; jobseeker’s benefit; jobseeker’s allowance for those aged 18 to 21 years; supplementary allowance for those aged 22 to 24; one-parent family payment and earnings disregard (by €16.50 to a weekly amount of €130). There have also been reductions in heating fuel subsidies and in supports to Travellers’ education, plus an increase of €2 per week contribution from those with a rent subsidy.

“Low-paid workers in the public service, that is, those earning €30,000 and less, have had a 5% reduction in salary, and the minimum public service pension age has been raised from 65 to 66.

These are all issues which are putting an enormous strain on the lives of women and the NCCWN hope to discuss these important issues with women on the day of the launch.”