Cut overseas aid and arts funding, say public
More than 1,000 people responded to the pre-budget survey over 10 days up to last Thursday, which asked a range of questions about the areas they feel should be protected or targeted in Finance Minister Brian Lenihan’s swingeing mix of spending cuts and tax hikes.
Just over half the participants chose overseas aid as one of the three areas in which the level of cuts should be highest, followed by the arts (46.2%) and sport (32.7%). Other spending which found weak public support were environmental schemes (25% think they should be hit hardest), child benefit (20%), help for the unemployed (19%), Gardaí and Defence Forces (18.7%) and personal taxation (18.4%).
However, help for the unemployed and personal tax were also quite highly ranked in the list of areas chosen as deserving most protection from cuts.
Almost two-thirds of respondents picked health services among the three areas they want sheltered most from budget cuts, followed closely by care of the disabled and elderly, with half the poll participants including education.
Other high-ranking spending areas included for protection were child protection, business, child benefit, Gardaí and armed forces, public transport and road maintenance, with lowest support on this question for the arts, sport and overseas aid.
But there is little confidence that the best measures will be introduced tomorrow, as only 122 (less than 12%) of the 1,041 participants said they trust the Government to make the right decisions affecting them in the budget.
There is strong support for the formation of a national government instead of another election, with 46% in favour and 54% against, but 84% indicated they think it is a good idea to have an election early next year.
Emigration is being actively considered by almost two-in-five of the survey group, more than two-thirds of whom were aged under 44 and 39% were 34 or younger. This reflects the finding in last week’s Irish Examiner/Millward Brown Lansdowne pre-budget survey that almost one-in-three adults aged under 24 plans to emigrate in the next year.
Asked in the online poll if young people have a real future in Ireland, 61% answered in the negative.
Almost three-quarters of the survey group were working, 11% were unemployed, 9% were retirees and 7% were students.
There was strong support for the pay and benefits of public servants to be cut, something 71% of respondents backed while 62% believe social welfare payments are too high.
By Niall Murray
PLEAS for a fair application of the axe to spending have been made ahead of tomorrow’s budget, as weak support for overseas aid was highlighted in an online poll.
With half of those who took part in the Irish Examiner website’s survey favouring the heaviest cuts on foreign aid programmes, the head of aid agency GOAL acknowledged that overseas development funding could not be exempted from harsh cutbacks.
The budgets for emergency humanitarian assistance, contributions to funds for developing countries and to the UN and other development agencies were cut by 8% this year to €115 million, and the four-year national recovery plan published 12 days ago has already set out a €35m cut in overseas development assistance from next year.
GOAL chief executive John O’Shea said nobody would suggest not cutting overseas aid when our own country is in such dire economic circumstances. But, he said, whatever money is taken from development budgets should not hit groups delivering the most effective relief in poorer countries.
“A cut of €35m isn’t very serious if it’s spread across the board. But if the IMF has decided Ireland can no longer afford overseas development and cuts it in half, I don’t want to see Irish organisations with a proven record being jettisoned and money still being given to priority countries, some of which get blank cheques that allow them spend Irish taxpayers’ money however they choose,” he said.
“Before taking a penny of the aid budget there has to be a forensic examination of where it is effective and where it is risky, like the tens of millions that are routed through governments that are known to be brutal and corrupt,” he said.
With strong support in the online poll for spending on care of the disabled and older people, Rehab Group reminded the Government of the impact cuts could have on vulnerable people such as those with disabilities.
“Essential services such as homecare, respite and residential care for people with disabilities are relied upon by many thousands of individuals and their families.
“It is very important that services that support adults and children living in their communities be protected,” said Rehab Group chief executive Angela Kerins.
Ms Kerins said research has shown that people with a disability face an additional cost of living of around €40 a week and cuts to their allowances would have a disproportionate impact.
Click here for full survey results
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