Outrage over ‘savage and cruel’ budget

THIS budget has been described as “savage”, “cruel” and “unimaginable” by shocked community and anti-poverty groups who are outraged at the cuts aimed at the poorest people in the country.

Under the budget, jobseekers benefit is to be cut by €8. And widows’ pensions, carer’s benefits, blind person’s and invalidity pensions are all also to be cut by €8. The one parent family payment will also drop by €8.

There is also outrage at the new social charge with several politicians pointing out how the new scheme benefits the more wealthy at the expense of the poor.

People earning more than €75,000 will see their contribution drop under the system compared to the previous one of the health and income levies.

“Currently, a single person on €400 per week has a marginal rate of tax of 26%. The changes raise the marginal rate of tax for a single person to 31%. At the same time, it appears that some higher income categories will be paying less under the USC regime than they are under the current health and income levies regime.

“The proposed change will significantly shift the burden of this tax to lower income workers,” said the Labour Party’s social protection spokeswoman, Roisín Shortall.

Barnardos chief executive, Fergus Finlay said his organisation had been “been braced for something bad but this is unimaginable”.

“In terms of current spending, the single biggest cut in the budget — in excess of €800 million — was in support for the poorest families in Ireland. The next biggest cut was in the health budget, and the third biggest swipe was in the amount taken from PAYE families — including thousands on the lowest incomes,” he said.

Community Platform is a network of 30 national organisations which seek to reduce poverty and exclusion. Its spokeswoman, Anne Costello said cutting social welfare, the minimum wage and child benefit “will not only have a devastating impact on the vulnerable it will also have a damaging impact on consumer spending, resulting in even more job losses and a further shrinking of the economy”.

Ireland’s largest housing association, Respond has said yesterday’s budget disproportionately affects the most vulnerable.

“What the minister achieved with this budget is a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor,” said spokeswoman Aoife Walsh.

Sinn Féin Cavan Monaghan TD, Caoimhin O’Caoláin described the budget as “cruel” and “savage”.

“The result will be poverty and unemployment and social misery,” he said.

Picture: Protestors vent their anger outside Leinster House last night