Irish social spending is low by EU standards
This is very disingenuous. For example, in their report on 'Care for Older People' published recently, the National Economic and Social Forum pointed out that "our levels of social spending on social protection are low by EU and OECD standards considering our levels of wealth, and this is particularly so for services relating to old age".
The Government has also failed to address the plight of the working poor 14% of households in poverty are now headed by those with a job compared to 7% in 1994.
The State is also more unequal than ever before. The richest 20% earn 12 times as much as the poorest 20%. Against this background, Deputy Carey's apparent expectation of some sort of accolade for belatedly taking those on minimum wage out of the tax net appears preposterous. The real reason for the fall in social spending? An abject lack of empathy from Government deputies with those who suffer the consequences of low public sending the old, the working poor, people with disabilities, etc.
Deputy Carey also suggests in his letter that Sinn Féin policies would stall house prices. Is he seriously suggesting that the ongoing rise in house prices is somehow acceptable? Is it acceptable that young couples struggle and over-borrow to secure their first home?
Unlike FF, which is made impotent by its close ties with developers and speculators, SF is committed to tackling over-inflated house prices which don't just price large numbers of people out of the housing market, but lead to dangerous over-borrowing which can have serious economic repercussions.
Arthur Morgan TD
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise and Employment
Leinster House
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
