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FG extend tax relief to Rich & Plan to Cut Social welfare again

2

Comments

  • #32
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    nesf wrote: »
    You should qualify for the medical card though if you're just on the dole.


    Nope I though that also but I applied and was refused. I contacted the SW office and you knnow the usual lark there, about 2 weeks spent trying to get an answer and all I got was I did not meet criteria.

    I presume it was as I had a small bit of savings ,which I have had to use to live and pay some of the car loan off and try to keep the VHI as I would otherwise be in deep trouble if I got sick etc.

    I am going to reapply but apparently there is an 12- 18 month delay in the applications


  • #33
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    nesf wrote: »
    The proposal is to force people into education and/or training once they go past a certain amount of time on the dole. Honestly, if I was stuck on the dole for over two years I'd be signing on for any bloody course just to get out of the house for a few hours each week to keep me sane.


    Are they going to pay for it and ensure that person has enough money to survive as alot of the grants paid hadly cover the course cost.

    FAS is a huge problem with lack of course they offer and alot of them are not suitable. I do not want to do a course which is of no use to me and also all I would be doing is taking a place away from a person who needs to be there. Courses need to be properly run and fit this whole new smart economy the PP are focusing on. So quailty science courses, IT courses and quailty ones not ECDL etc these are hwta should be focused on. But I feel now the move has been forget about the recently umemployed.

    I have 2 honour degrees and a Diploma so alot of the course FAS offers are no good to me. I was told the only course availbale to me was an ECDL which I have years. I was told then I was on my own.

    I have paid for a few course myself and have recently completed an FETAC Level 5 course. I am doing all this to keep busy, enhnace my skills and branch out.

    I looked into doing a Master and it was €15,000 I cannot afford that and when i enquired about the Gov schemes available to help fund this there was nothing. I cannot magic that cash and then more to live while I study out of thin air.


  • #34
    Lawrence1895
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭Lawrence1895


    PauloMN wrote: »
    If people are capable of work and available to work, and there is work available for them, then why shouldn't their SW payments be slashed if they do not work?

    I agree with the exceptions - If people cannot work due to needing to care for children, elderly or infirm people, they should be able to claim full benefits.

    However, Ireland is a soft-touch for people who can't be bothered working, and given the state of our economy, we need to cut welfare wherever we can. It's ridiculous how much we spend on welfare compared to our tax take. Dole payments should be restricted to those who absolutely need them, like the genuine cases where people have lost their jobs and have bills to pay and families to provide for, not some 18 year old living at home with mammy who can't be arsed working. Time to get tough as far as I'm concerned.

    You are absolutely right there. People who are exploiting the system should be punished, and those who are in need should benefit.

    But still, we have to see the individual case...and I guess, someone who worked for decades in a certain job will find it hard to adapt into a new work environment.

    And to conclude with something, I faced back in Germany. The employment agency wanted me to work in a Call Centre, selling Online Lotto Tickets over the phone...because I was a Social Worker with good communication skills.
    Things like this might not happen here...I guess


  • #35
    Will_H
    Closed Accounts Posts: 171 ✭✭Will_H


    Spudmonkey wrote: »
    So would you be in favour of long term recipients having their weekly amount slashed instead?

    Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that.:( Firstly, there are different types of welfare for people. Be it JB/JA for the unemployed, to medical cards, childrens allowance, widows allowance, rental allowance - the list goes on & on. And as people have said already, if you know the system & how to milk it, there are those who just don't want to work.

    However, if we are talking simply about Jobseekers Allowance (you move off Benefit after 12 months) it IS something the Govt needs to look at very seriously.
    nesf wrote: »
    Honestly, if I was stuck on the dole for over two years I'd be signing on for any bloody course just to get out of the house for a few hours each week to keep me sane.
    This is also a problem for me. I had to sell my car in order to continue paying mortgage/bills etc. I live nearly 10km from the nearest town & I'm not near any public transport route.

    When I do get a job again - and I will - I have no transport. I probably won't be able to get a loan as I am now blacklisted [for 5 years!] by the Irish Credit Bureau as I fell behind on payments for my Credit Card. Even though I had a blemish free record up until recently. And I can guarantee you I'm not the only one in this position.


  • #36
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    moceri wrote: »
    I see Fine Gael have taken a severe Lurch to the Right by doing a U-Turn on their published proposals in their 4 Year plan (2010) for reliefs for High Earners to be rolled back to 41 % on their Pension contributions.

    The 2011 Budget had already outlined plans to gradually reduce the relief to High Earners which disproportionately benefited the better off:

    # The annual earnings cap for pension relief will fall from €150,000 to €115,000. The €115,000 earnings cap will also apply to contributions made in 2011 in respect of the 2010 tax year
    # Tax relief will be reduced to 34% in 2012, 27% in 2013 and 20% in 2014

    Fine Gael is planning to abolish this change and maintain it at 41% for High earners.

    In contrast it is planning to slash Social Welfare payments to those physicially capable of work, regardless of wheter employment opportunities exist or not.

    Talk about kicking a man when he is down.


    Jobs need to be created first. Pensions can be kicked down the road.

    Welfare has to be slashed.


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  • #37
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    liammur wrote: »
    Welfare has to be slashed.


    That is a bit of a wide reaching statement. Why does it have to be slashed.

    What is someone said taxes need to be higher and there would be outcry among the working population and boards would be bombarded with posts saying well I pay enough tax already, I am on a low wage etc.

    Same applies to welfare. Yes there are people doing quite well on it and milking the system but the majority of people on it now are recently unemployed and are struggling and not getting suplementry benefits.

    So is your opinion that we are spending too much on it so cut it, without tackling fraud first to see how much of an impact it has and the huge savings that would be made thus reducing need for cuts.

    Then one could have the opinion that well the Gov are not taking enough in so lets increase the tax basis for everyone regardless of earnings a board increase of % on all incomes.

    It would not be fair in both situations and have the outcome of stifling growth and keeps us in recession.


  • #38
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    That is a bit of a wide reaching statement. Why does it have to be slashed.

    What is someone said taxes need to be higher and there would be outcry among the working population and boards would be bombarded with posts saying well I pay enough tax already, I am on a low wage etc.

    Same applies to welfare. Yes there are people doing quite well on it and milking the system but the majority of people on it now are recently unemployed and are struggling and not getting suplementry benefits.

    So is your opinion that we are spending too much on it so cut it, without tackling fraud first to see how much of an impact it has and the huge savings that would be made thus reducing need for cuts.

    Then one could have the opinion that well the Gov are not taking enough in so lets increase the tax basis for everyone regardless of earnings a board increase of % on all incomes.

    It would not be fair in both situations and have the outcome of stifling growth and keeps us in recession.

    I agree taxes need to be raised. Politicians don't run a country the way a business is run. If you are nearly €200bn in debt after a disastrous FF government, pain has to be inflicted. Cuts and taxes.


  • #39
    EricPraline
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 486 ✭✭EricPraline


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    What is someone said taxes need to be higher and there would be outcry among the working population and boards would be bombarded with posts saying well I pay enough tax already, I am on a low wage etc.

    Same applies to welfare.
    I'm not sure if you've noticed, but there have already been significant tax increases in the last few budgets, compared with relatively small cuts in welfare.

    But as liammur says, higher taxes and spending cuts are inevitable. It's not a case of either/or at this stage.


  • #40
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    liammur wrote: »
    I agree taxes need to be raised. Politicians don't run a country the way a business is run. If you are nearly €200bn in debt after a disastrous FF government, pain has to be inflicted. Cuts and taxes.


    In practice yes too much debt you introduce cuts and taxes.

    However I think it needs to be as fair as it can be. With cuts and taxes you will never please everyone there are ways.

    First tackle fraud in the SW- it can be done and has been promised but never happens. We have such an excess of public servants put them to work doing this make them work for the CPA. There are huge savings to be made and I say if it was properly tacked we would be shocked at the amount to be saved.

    OAP's need to be included in cuts - even if it was a €5 a week it would be something. That or introuced DIRT tax for them, maybe lose the free tv license, some gesture would help the economy.

    CPA -needs to be be scrappped. I am not talking about front line staff such as nurses, firefighters, doctots etc losing jobs but the bloated admin side in all depts. Where there are 6 people doing the job of 3, wanting compensation for moving 2 desk down the office, not willing to work an hour longer a week and the list goes on. I mean you ring any Gov dept and you get a different answer to same question every single time.

    Again for high earners and that is the 6 figure + salary well higher taxes, again tackle the whole avoidance of paying tax here, etc. I am sure there are other ways of dealing with these sort of issues.

    For so long this country and Gov have just avoided tacking certain issues and now it has come back and bite us big time, well lets start as we mean to go on.


  • #41
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    In practice yes too much debt you introduce cuts and taxes.

    However I think it needs to be as fair as it can be. With cuts and taxes you will never please everyone there are ways.

    First tackle fraud in the SW- it can be done and has been promised but never happens. We have such an excess of public servants put them to work doing this make them work for the CPA. There are huge savings to be made and I say if it was properly tacked we would be shocked at the amount to be saved.

    OAP's need to be included in cuts - even if it was a €5 a week it would be something. That or introuced DIRT tax for them, maybe lose the free tv license, some gesture would help the economy.

    Again for high earners and that is the 6 figure + salary well higher taxes, again tackle the whole avoidance of paying tax here, etc. I am sure there are other ways of dealing with these sort of issues.

    For so long this country and Gov have just avoided tacking certain issues and now it has come back and bite us big time, well lets start as we mean to go on.

    OAP's should be hit by at least €20 in the next budget, and that's just starters. That's if they are serious about tackling the debt pile.


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  • #42
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    EricPraline wrote: »
    I'm not sure if you've noticed, but there have already been significant tax increases in the last few budgets, compared with relatively small cuts in welfare.

    But as liammur says, higher taxes and spending cuts are inevitable. It's not a case of either/or at this stage.


    I have noticed actually but remember we majority of people on wefare still have same bills such as ESB, gas, food etc so they have to do that on €188 just saying & yes I know employed people also took huge cuts in pay but they still have a bit more income to cover these bits. Maybe not alot but still, the recently unemployed would be happy with that and have a job.

    Those cuts are huge to some people on the SW and make all the difference.


  • #43
    axer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,517 ✭✭✭axer


    Will_H wrote: »
    I think a number of you giving out about the SW rate need to get the facts straight here and to put things in perspective....

    There is approximately 14% of the workforce unemployed today. Approx. 3 years ago. it was 4%. So let me do the math for you to make it easy - that's an extra 10%. This does not take into account the 100,000 or so who have emigrated to date, although it does include the self-employed who can't find work but are not entitled to JB/JA.

    The original 4% would have been the long-term unemployed, who, for whatever reason [too lazy, genuine reason, claimed illegally] stayed on the dole & received their benefits.

    After more that 25 years working, I, sadly, am one of the 10% who is now on the dole. I was receiving 196 a week, however, with the cuts in SW to date, I am now on 160 per week.

    I HATE being unemployed but I cannot find work.
    It's demoralising, it's shameful, it's stressful. We can barely get by.

    So -
    DO NOT tell me I'm not entitled to my measly 160 a week - particularly after paying my taxes for the past 25 years!

    DO NOT tell me I have "no incentive to work" because I receive too much on welfare.

    Do any of you honestly think that someone who has been made unemployed over the past 24 months actually wants to be on the dole!!!?!! Get ****ing real....:mad:
    Forgetting about the shame etc the issue is the gap between minimum wage and the dole is way too low whereby someone on the dole with job seekers allowance, rent allowance and the medical card can get more than someone on the minimum wage. Not everyone has the self-driven incentitive to work as you do.

    So its either lower the dole or increase the minimum wage. The latter would not be a good idea since it would decrease the competitiveness of Ireland in the international economy. Thus there is no choice but to lower the dole.

    Having said that I would leave Job Seekers Benefit at 160-190 and extend the length of time to a max of 2 years. After that people should drop to job seekers allowance gradually by €10 a month until it bottoms out at €100.


  • #44
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    liammur wrote: »
    OAP's should be hit by at least €20 in the next budget, and that's just starters. That's if they are serious about tackling the debt pile.


    I agree on the OAP thing but last time I sais that on another thread I was bombared with usual of these poor oap's are on bread line etc

    I have a feeling they won't hit the oap's etc they are just going to be protected as politicans are scared of them.

    As I said first before we head for more savage cuts, taxes there are other area's that should be priortised to see can we see where € is being wasted and solve that problem then head for the usual cuts etc


  • #45
    Kracken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 207 ✭✭Kracken


    Any one that says social welface has to be cut is a moron, with no social aware or ability to see what state the country is in. You need to offer a solution first before you cut anything.

    I am employed in a job that is a little above minimum wage and my wife is on JB, however we are living hand to mouth, we have no debts bar a mortgage which is is less that the national average (we did not over borrow and did not take 100% one either).

    If they slash welfare what am I do, starve myself and live in the cold because i can't afford utilities.

    So I ask if you think welfare needs to be slashed, justify why i shouldn't be allowed to eat, live in any form of comfort or be entitled to any form of happiness.

    Why not instead slash all TD salaries to 60,000 a year regardless of position, reduce an civil servants wage above 60,000 a year.

    Start selling state assets on a lower rate lease back method.

    Use the profits raised by bailed out banks to supplement the states coffers, how about any of those suggestions?


  • #46
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    I agree on the OAP thing but last time I sais that on another thread I was bombared with usual of these poor oap's are on bread line etc

    I have a feeling they won't hit the oap's etc they are just going to be protected as politicans are scared of them.

    As I said first before we head for more savage cuts, taxes there are other area's that should be priortised to see can we see where € is being wasted and solve that problem then head for the usual cuts etc

    To be honest, I think the country is finished, so i'm not saying what should or should not be done. But if politicians are serious about the matter, there will have to be severe cuts and taxes across the board. None of which I'd gain any pleasure from.


  • #47
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    axer wrote: »
    Forgetting about the shame etc the issue is the gap between minimum wage and the dole is way too low whereby someone on the dole with job seekers allowance, rent allowance and the medical card can get more than someone on the minimum wage. Not everyone has the self-driven incentitive to work as you do.

    So its either lower the dole or increase the minimum wage. The latter would not be a good idea since it would decrease the competitiveness of Ireland in the international economy. Thus there is no choice but to lower the dole.

    Having said that I would leave Job Seekers Benefit at 160-190 and extend the length of time to a max of 2 years. After that people should drop to job seekers allowance gradually by €10 a month until it bottoms out at €100.

    That all is ideal in theory but what about practice.

    What happens when a person applies for jobs all over and just is unfortunate not to get one should they be penalised for something out of their control.
    I know highly educated and experience ppeopel who have been out of work for over 2 years. They have applied for every type of job and are lucky to get a letter in response never mind an interview. One of my friends was told he was over qualified for job he was applied for and not to bother as he would not be considered.

    As I said the fraud needs to be tacked first and as I laid out in another post there are other areas need attention too.


  • #48
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    liammur wrote: »
    To be honest, I think the country is finished, so i'm not saying what should or should not be done. But if politicians are serious about the matter, there will have to be severe cuts and taxes across the board. None of which I'd gain any pleasure from.


    I am trying to remain positive but it is hard especially given my situation but it is hard to believe any of the politicans as there are only out for themselves and their cronies. The people who need to be targeted won't be while the rest of us suffer and have to put up with it.


  • #49
    Kristopherus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,906 ✭✭✭✭Kristopherus


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    Nope I though that also but I applied and was refused. I contacted the SW office and you knnow the usual lark there, about 2 weeks spent trying to get an answer and all I got was I did not meet criteria.

    I presume it was as I had a small bit of savings ,which I have had to use to live and pay some of the car loan off and try to keep the VHI as I would otherwise be in deep trouble if I got sick etc.

    I am going to reapply but apparently there is an 12- 18 month delay in the applications

    Apply again ASAP. The last time I looked at the PCRS website, they were claiming the could process applications in 4 weeks. If you are unemployed for more than 1 yr, then your average income will have reduced considerably.You were most likely assessed with a mixture of earned income & welfare income at your first application, which would have given an increased average. You also can have €20,000 in savings before you are penalised. Get cracking, and best of luck. BTW, you can check your eligibility on www.medicalcard.ie


  • #50
    axer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,517 ✭✭✭axer


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    That all is ideal in theory but what about practice.

    What happens when a person applies for jobs all over and just is unfortunate not to get one should they be penalised for something out of their control.
    I know highly educated and experience ppeopel who have been out of work for over 2 years. They have applied for every type of job and are lucky to get a letter in response never mind an interview. One of my friends was told he was over qualified for job he was applied for and not to bother as he would not be considered.
    Then they are not targeting their CVs correctly. There is no point applying for a lower level position with a CV that boasts of qualities working in the higher level position such as their high education and experience. They affectively need to dumb down their CV.
    pocketvenus wrote: »
    As I said the fraud needs to be tacked first and as I laid out in another post there are other areas need attention too.
    No, fraud needs to be tackled as well along with the other areas.


  • #51
    Will_H
    Closed Accounts Posts: 171 ✭✭Will_H


    axer wrote: »
    Forgetting about the shame etc the issue is the gap between minimum wage and the dole is way too low whereby someone on the dole with job seekers allowance, rent allowance and the medical card can get more than someone on the minimum wage. Not everyone has the self-driven incentive to work as you do.

    So its either lower the dole or increase the minimum wage. The latter would not be a good idea since it would decrease the competitiveness of Ireland in the international economy. Thus there is no choice but to lower the dole.

    Having said that I would leave Job Seekers Benefit at 160-190 and extend the length of time to a max of 2 years. After that people should drop to job seekers allowance gradually by €10 a month until it bottoms out at €100.

    I agree to a degree Axer - what happens if there are no jobs??! How can you cut someone's allowance to €100?

    And that's where the problem lies. I'd be pretty sure that most people getting JA/JB over the past 18-24 months are not getting rent allowance and lots of the other 'benefits'. Most of them bought their own homes over the past 10+ years.

    Other things need to be done to lower the competitive costs within the country. Utility costs are too high, doctors fees are too high, prescriptions are too high, semi-state CEO's wages are too high, quangos costs are too high, TDs expenses are too high, TD's salaries are too high....we could go on & on. Once these costs are decreased, min wage can decrease & therefore SW costs can decrease.


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  • #52
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    I am trying to remain positive but it is hard especially given my situation but it is hard to believe any of the politicans as there are only out for themselves and their cronies. The people who need to be targeted won't be while the rest of us suffer and have to put up with it.

    I don't know your situation, but try to be positive. The people who are emigrating are making the tough but right decision imo. And remember, to anyone who is unemployed, there is no shame.


  • #53
    kippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,189 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    alejandro1977 wrote: »
    Labour want to have a marginal rate of tax of 55%

    Why should anyone hand over more than half his salary to the government?

    I'll leave before I do.

    (I'd leave to find work before I'd claim the dole also BTW)

    Most would have over close to half their salary to the government already......
    Theres the income based taxation, that brings you to your net income. Then on that net income you pay another 21 odd percent on almost everything you purchase (some purchases far more, carbon based fuels, alcohol, cigarettes for example)
    Then theres those "hard not to pay" fees, such as the various insurances etc.


  • #54
    axer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,517 ✭✭✭axer


    Will_H wrote: »
    I agree to a degree Axer - what happens if there are no jobs??! How can you cut someone's allowance to €100?
    There are jobs out there but for many it does not make financial sense for them to take up the lower paid jobs.
    Will_H wrote: »
    And that's where the problem lies. I'd be pretty sure that most people getting JA/JB over the past 18-24 months are not getting rent allowance and lots of the other 'benefits'. Most of them bought their own homes over the past 10+ years.

    Other things need to be done to lower the competitive costs within the country. Utility costs are too high, doctors fees are too high, prescriptions are too high, semi-state CEO's wages are too high, quangos costs are too high, TDs expenses are too high, TD's salaries are too high....we could go on & on. Once these costs are decreased, min wage can decrease & therefore SW costs can decrease.
    Lowering the dole is only one of the many things that need to be done. When the population have less money prices will come down. Everything needs to be lowered and private company salaries will also come down too.


  • #55
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    liammur wrote: »
    I don't know your situation, but try to be positive. The people who are emigrating are making the tough but right decision imo. And remember, to anyone who is unemployed, there is no shame.


    I am looking into emigration at the mo myself. It is hard to think of having to leave my family behind and all that and as I am a bit older again makes it harder as emigrating at 18 is an alltogether experience then at 30.

    I agree there is no shame in being unemployed due to recession but you are def made to feel that way by some people. Even collecting your weekly payments and signing on makes you feel ashamed etc.


  • #56
    Will_H
    Closed Accounts Posts: 171 ✭✭Will_H


    liammur wrote: »
    I don't know your situation, but try to be positive. The people who are emigrating are making the tough but right decision imo. And remember, to anyone who is unemployed, there is no shame.

    Agree 100% on this. You MUST stay positive pocketvenus - keep the chin up!! ;) We all have our good days & bad days.....


  • #57
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    axer wrote: »
    Then they are not targeting their CVs correctly. There is no point applying for a lower level position with a CV that boasts of qualities working in the higher level position such as their high education and experience. They affectively need to dumb down their CV.



    No, fraud needs to be tackled as well along with the other areas.


    That is what I said fraud needs to be tacked first, along with areas such as people avoding paying tax in this country, CPA, etc

    He has dumbed down his CV, I had to do same with mine but they stilll know even by looking at the degrees etc.
    Also when you are on dole you are desperate to take any job even it is what is classes as a low skilled.

    I think another poster said you should not be applying for low skilled jobs with high qualifications, em hello people are desperate to be off dole and do anything. So are they encouraging people to stay longer on dole until a job which fits the qualification comes along.


  • #58
    liammur
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭liammur


    pocketvenus wrote: »
    I am looking into emigration at the mo myself. It is hard to think of having to leave my family behind and all that and as I am a bit older again makes it harder as emigrating at 18 is an alltogether experience then at 30.

    I agree there is no shame in being unemployed due to recession but you are def made to feel that way by some people. Even collecting your weekly payments and signing on makes you feel ashamed etc.

    I know someone who emigrated a year to europe, didn't want to go, but now it's the best decision he ever made now. As someone also said, there are jobs out there, but it probably all depends on the skillset.
    It's people like bartie ahern who should be ashamed, wrecked the country and walked off with something like €300K


  • #59
    TICKLE_ME_ELMO
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 23,995 Mod ✭✭✭✭TICKLE_ME_ELMO


    I don't know how to properly tackle this situation so I won't even bother making suggestions, but at the end of that day, for every person on the dole that genuinely can't find a job, there are probably 2 people who are quite happy to keep signing on without ever looking for work.

    I've heard people who were working part time say that they've quit their jobs because they could apply for this that and the other off social welfare and make as much as they were working, but didn't have to do anything for it.
    People claiming single parents and rent allowance when they're not single parents, when they have the father of their kids handing them money every week and some other fellah living with them paying the bills.

    Every type of payment that can be gotten from social welfare is being abused left right and centre. I know there are people out there who rely on their payments to feed their kids and pay bills, but I'm sure the percentage of people like that is much smaller than the percentage that are just screwing the system.

    Now that's not to say FG have the right solution to the problem. And of course the higher earners should be targeted just as much as the lower income people, but it's not fair that if a politician even suggest going after social welfare they get devoured.
    People go on and on about FF being a pile of gangsters and dishonest etc. etc. but how many of them are claiming things they shouldn't be? How many of them are lying to the social welfare to line their own pockets? Plenty of them, and at the end of the day that is one of the reasons we are in such a state that we're in, because everybody is out for themselves, from the politicians right down to the bottom of the ladder.

    I'm sure I'll get some abuse for this post, but I honestly believe that something serious needs to be done about social welfare fraud, and it needs to be done now.


  • #60
    pocketvenus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 374 ✭✭pocketvenus


    axer wrote: »
    Then they are not targeting their CVs correctly. There is no point applying for a lower level position with a CV that boasts of qualities working in the higher level position such as their high education and experience. They affectively need to dumb down their CV.

    No, fraud needs to be tackled as well along with the other areas.
    Will_H wrote: »
    Agree 100% on this. You MUST stay positive pocketvenus - keep the chin up!! ;) We all have our good days & bad days.....


    Thanks Will_H same to you. Positive thought are the way to go.


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  • #61
    Kristopherus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,906 ✭✭✭✭Kristopherus


    kippy wrote: »
    Most would have over close to half their salary to the government already......
    Theres the income based taxation, that brings you to your net income. Then on that net income you pay another 21 odd percent on almost everything you purchase (some purchases far more, carbon based fuels, alcohol, cigarettes for example)
    Then theres those "hard not to pay" fees, such as the various insurances etc.

    That what I find crazy. All parties telling us that we have to live on less. Try telling that to:
    1 Local Authorities. Service charges have gone up . Parking charges have gone up. Refuse charges have gone up.
    2. Health service providers. In addition to HSE price increases, private nursing homes have raised their prices, GPs have not reduced charges. Occupational Health Proffessionals have not reduced charges.
    3.Gov. sponsored inflationary charges must be reduced. Crazy charges for a change of details in the likes of a passport should be abolished.

    Until the next Govt gets a grip and examines all strands of charges clinically and fairly, the we will never have the prospect of a level playing field.:mad:


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