"Complex topic"

Minister Rauch pushes ahead with basic child protection

Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch at the round table on the topic of basic child protection(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) is pushing ahead with the issue of basic child protection. On Monday, he held a round table with various social organizations and NGOs. In the coming weeks, he intends to present a plan for its implementation, which - if at all - is likely to be the responsibility of the next government. The ÖVP is not going along with Rauch's plans.

At the summit on Monday, which was attended by representatives from Volkshilfe, Caritas, Diakonie, Hilfswerk, UNICEF, other social organizations and various experts, including Fiscal Council President Christoph Badelt, it was agreed that the elimination of child poverty was a "common core concern". After all, the consequential costs are enormous.

Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch at the round table on basic child protection(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

Plan for "complex topic" in the coming weeks 
Of course, basic child protection is a "complex issue" that affects various levels and requires the involvement of the federal states, social partners and other stakeholders, Rauch admitted. Nevertheless, he was confident that he would be able to present a plan for concrete implementation in the coming weeks. Rauch announced that this would include the preparation of further basic principles and calculation models. There will also be another round in this composition for this purpose.

There was agreement on the basic principles: In addition to a basic amount that is independent of income, a future model must include a second monetary component that is based on the parents' income and therefore particularly benefits children at risk of poverty and exclusion, Rauch emphasized. The third element would be benefits in kind, such as a free hot meal per day for every child or important health services such as prevention and therapy services. According to Rauch, this affects not only federal but also state benefits.

Anna Paar, Secretary General of Caritas), Social Minister Johannes Rauch and Volkshilfe boss Erich Fenninger(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

Caritas: Basic child protection has a poverty-preventing effect 
Rauch received support from Caritas Secretary General Anna Parr in a statement to journalists after the end of the round table: "The basic income support for children has long been a concern of Caritas." Parr was pleased with the "very constructive exchange". The basic income support for children is also about preventing poverty. After all, children who grow up in poverty continue to do so into adulthood and often end up living in poverty themselves. Education is therefore also an "important lever".

Rauch dreams of a republic "free from child poverty"
Solutions to prevent child poverty were also discussed today, reported Volkshilfe Managing Director Erich Fenninger: "The goal would be to have a republic that is free of child poverty - that is possible in a rich country like Austria."