Cllr Aine Clancy

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Budget 2009

Issued : Friday 15 May, 2009

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Budget 2009



 



The second budget for 2009 on 7^th April is as disastrous as the first.



 



It has failed to tax the 6,000 wealthy Irish tax exiles who flit in and out of the country for the big races in the Curragh and the big concerts in Croke Park.



 



It has exposed the taxpayer to the €90 billion toxic banking debts and sent the national debt through the roof.



 



But the greatest tragedy of this budget is that it threatens the very fabric of Irish society.  A married couple with two children and one income on €40,000 earnings will lose €2,200 or 5.5% of their earnings.



 



Mortgage interest relief on their artificially over-priced home is abolished while landlords can still offset their mortgage interest at the top rate of tax.



 



If the income earner is a public sector employee the pensions levy in February will already have placed an additional burden of €2,750 on the family at the same time.  The private sector employee is in imminent danger of redundancy or a voluntary salary cut.



 



By concentrating on increasing taxation rather than spending cuts the Government has made virtually impossible for Irish tax-paying families to make ends meet



 



Security Scheme for the Elderly.



 



As a result of the provisions in the recent budget, the Government has suspended all new applications for the Security Scheme for the Elderly



This scheme provided older people with



 




• personal alarms

• security lighting

• door locks

• viewing lenses so that they can see who the caller is




 



The scheme was operated by voluntary groups around the country. It is really scandalous that this petty saving has axed this voluntary service.



 



A booklet entitled ‘Needs of Older People’ is available free of charge from The Tolka Area Partnership office 27/28 Annamoe Terrace Dublin 7. Please Telephone 8683806 or email mary.connolly@fcb.ie  you may also pick up some forms from the downstairs office for entitlements you may be eligible for.



 



Health Levy



 



The health levy rates have doubled to 4% and 5% respectively.



Remember you don’t have to pay this levy if any of the following apply to you



 




• You Have a full medical card

• You are in receipt of a widow’s pension

• You are over 70

• You are in receipt of certain other welfare payments. Please enquire to the address on your payment receipt




 



 



Child Benefit



The Government has announced its intention to either means-test or tax child benefit from the start of next year. As there may be constitutional issues, it is likely there will be a flat reduction of 10% for everybody with no exemptions. So the less well off will suffer most. This is a shameful state of affairs. Some people are well enough off to set aside the child benefit from the birth of the chid to fund their education in private schools later in life. For others the monthly payments are vital for buying food, shoes and clothing for their children.



 



Christmas Bonus



Regrettably, the Government announced that the traditional double-week payment at Christmas will not be paid to pensioners and welfare recipients. Apart from the hardship this causes to those affected, there is a knock on effect that this will reduce further retail spending, increasing the threat to jobs in that sector of the economy already severely hit by the economic downturn.



 



Help with Bills and Debt



If you are struggling with bills or debt, one useful service that might be able to help you is the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)



MABS is currently in Church Street in Finglas (Tel 8462148) but is moving



 



Note the MABS Service is located in 53 Upper Dorset Street from



Monday 18^th May. Tel: 8462148



 



This office is intended to serve the Cabra, Drumcondra, Glasnevin and Navan Roads area 



Budget 2009



 



The second budget for 2009 on 7^th April is as disastrous as the first.



 



It has failed to tax the 6,000 wealthy Irish tax exiles who flit in and out of the country for the big races in the Curragh and the big concerts in Croke Park.



 



It has exposed the taxpayer to the €90 billion toxic banking debts and sent the national debt through the roof.



 



But the greatest tragedy of this budget is that it threatens the very fabric of Irish society.  A married couple with two children and one income on €40,000 earnings will lose €2,200 or 5.5% of their earnings.



 



Mortgage interest relief on their artificially over-priced home is abolished while landlords can still offset their mortgage interest at the top rate of tax.



 



If the income earner is a public sector employee the pensions levy in February will already have placed an additional burden of €2,750 on the family at the same time.  The private sector employee is in imminent danger of redundancy or a voluntary salary cut.



 



By concentrating on increasing taxation rather than spending cuts the Government has made virtually impossible for Irish tax-paying families to make ends meet.



 



Security Scheme for the Elderly.



 



As a result of the provisions in the recent budget, the Government has suspended all new applications for the Security Scheme for the Elderly



This scheme provided older people with



 




• personal alarms

• security lighting

• door locks

• viewing lenses so that they can see who the caller is




 



The scheme was operated by voluntary groups around the country. It is really scandalous that this petty saving has axed this voluntary service.



 



A booklet entitled ‘Needs of Older People’ is available free of charge from The Tolka Area Partnership office 27/28 Annamoe Terrace Dublin 7. Please Telephone 8683806 or email mary.connolly@fcb.ie  you may also pick up some forms from the downstairs office for entitlements you may be eligible for.



 



Health Levy



 



The health levy rates have doubled to 4% and 5% respectively.



Remember you don’t have to pay this levy if any of the following apply to you



 




• You Have a full medical card

• You are in receipt of a widow’s pension

• You are over 70

• You are in receipt of certain other welfare payments. Please enquire to the address on your payment receipt




 



 



Child Benefit



The Government has announced its intention to either means-test or tax child benefit from the start of next year. As there may be constitutional issues, it is likely there will be a flat reduction of 10% for everybody with no exemptions. So the less well off will suffer most. This is a shameful state of affairs. Some people are well enough off to set aside the child benefit from the birth of the chid to fund their education in private schools later in life. For others the monthly payments are vital for buying food, shoes and clothing for their children.



 



Christmas Bonus



Regrettably, the Government announced that the traditional double-week payment at Christmas will not be paid to pensioners and welfare recipients. Apart from the hardship this causes to those affected, there is a knock on effect that this will reduce further retail spending, increasing the threat to jobs in that sector of the economy already severely hit by the economic downturn.



 



Help with Bills and Debt



If you are struggling with bills or debt, one useful service that might be able to help you is the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)



MABS is currently in Church Street in Finglas (Tel 8462148) but is moving



 



Note the MABS Service is located in 53 Upper Dorset Street from



Monday 18^th May. Tel: 8462148



 



This office is intended to serve the Cabra, Drumcondra, Glasnevin and Navan Roads area