Three years later, they have a lot still to do
FF and the PDs offered a set of promises before the 2002 general election, in effect, the basis for their ‘social contract’ with those who elected them.
Promises broken include:
: supposed to be eliminated by the end of ‘04. By then, 43% of public patients were still waiting between six and 12 months. The promise was that they were to wait no more than three months by this time.
: supposed to improve services. An average of 291 patients were treated on trollies during February, March and April this year. The situation is worsening.
: supposed to be increased by 2,000. Nothing was done to meet this commitment for two years. On the most favourable turnout, it will take seven years from February last for this target to be reached.
: 15,000 houses per annum were to be built under various social schemes. Objective is way off target. A total of 7,191 social and affordable housing units were provided in ‘03 across all programmes with 6,971 provided in ‘02.
: promise to reduce “consistent poverty” to below 2%. Most recent data from EU survey on income and living conditions shows that, in ‘03, almost 10% were living in “consistent poverty.” No radical measures have been taken since then to reduce them.
: over five years, 80% of all earners were to pay tax only at the standard rate. This year, 32% are paying at standard rate.
Mark Wakefield
Mercier Park
Turner’s Cross
Cork
