Bord Snip showed no social conscience

THE Bord Snip report showed no trace of a social conscience when it targeted €1.8bn in welfare cuts. There are more than 410,000 people unemployed and it’s feared the figure could reach 500,000 over the course of next year.

This year alone families on welfare have lost the Christmas bonus, the free schoolbooks scheme and now they may be asked to take a further 5% cut due to falling food and energy costs.

They are to lose the dental, optical and hearing free benefits of the medical card while having to pay a €5 charge for medical card prescriptions.

Who is going to pay the dentist for children and adults in pain? Who will pay for the glasses for the diabetic whose eyes could fall victim to the disease? Who will pay for the hearing tests and hearing aids for the deaf and tinnitis sufferers?

I fear the social neglect that could arise from the sanctions, if implemented, and the emotional stresses that will undoubtedly occur.

The report gives no hope to the great mass of people and their dependents whose only recourse to money is the dole. I implore ministers to think long and hard before they cut. Please have a conscience.

Michael O’Connor,

Millbrook Court

Mill Road

Midleton

Co Cork