BUDGET MAKES SAVAGE CUTS ON YOUNG AND OLD

Thomas Pringle TD has today condemned the government’s targeting of the old and the young in today’s budget, describing it as an outright attack on those who rely on supports the most in order to have a decent standard of living.

“The young and the old have been targeted in a massive way today. Young people who are unemployed are being dealt a massive blow with a Jobseekers’ Allowance cut to a measly €100 a week. While between the scrapping of the telephone allowance, the raising of the prescription charge to €2.50 and the changes to the criteria for Medical Cards for those over 70, I think it’s fair to say that the elderly are the biggest losers in Budget 2014.

“On top of that, expectant mothers have been hit again this time with a standardised payment on top of the taxation of the payment that was introduced last year. Savers, including small savers, have been hit by the DIRT increase to 41% and the reduction in Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Rent Allowance by changing eligibility will hit another vulnerable group. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Bereavement Grant is being slashed completely, something which many families rely on to send off their loved ones.

“In my joint budget proposal launched last week with other independents we proposed no further expenditure cuts which would have left us with a deficit of 5.8% in 2014. This government has today imposed €2.5 billion in measures to reduce the deficit by just 1%.

“We’re being told that the end of austerity is nigh, but in reality things have just gotten bleaker for many,” stated Pringle.

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