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Following the Budget 2021 announcement on Tuesday, The Irish Times asked readers for their reaction: what, if anything, did they earn? Below is a selection of the responses we received.
‘I’m better off unemployed’
I am dismayed by Budget 2021. I am an airline employee with two children, a single mother who has worked her entire life. My hours have been drastically reduced. I normally have a 26 hour contract, which was reduced to 20 hours due to Covid-19. My contract is renewed every year and has been cut in half, so now I only work 10 hours a week. My total net pay is now € 363 per week. If you were completely unemployed you would be receiving € 350 a week, double pay at Christmas and fuel allowance. I’m better off unemployed, it’s shocking to say. I am actively looking for a second job because I had bills and loans based on my previous normal salary. I can’t survive with this, and Christmas seems impossible. – Fiona Sheehan, Co Cork
‘Many senior citizens continue to work as an economic necessity’
When Covid-19 payments went into effect last spring, those of us over the age of 66 who lost our jobs were not entitled to any help or payment. Many of us who only have the state contributory pension find it necessary to supplement that weekly payment with part-time work. I had to stop giving a Tai Chi class in a day center for the elderly, in addition to giving a music class in a school. If you have to pay the rent (even with the help of the housing assistance payment) and even with the help of the fuel subsidy, it hardly adds up if you live on the state pension alone. I am 70 years old and fortunately in good health. But I think it should be understood that many of us senior citizens still work, not as a hobby, but as an economic necessity. The current budget still does not take into account our circumstances. – K. James Donahue, Dundalk
‘I’ll be financially crippled this winter’
This is the second consecutive year that people with disability pensions have not had an increase. I, at the age of 65, do not qualify for the heating plan because my daughter, who is unemployed, and my granddaughter live with me. I have severe arthritis, shortness of breath, and an underactive thyroid, which affects my body temperature. I am still paying for my heating from last winter, at € 102 per month. I will be financially crippled this winter. – Maryna Kriel, Dublin
‘People who get up to work every morning don’t get anything’
Absolutely disappointed and angry with this budget, once again those who contribute the least to the country get more, while the people who get up to work each morning receive nothing but more expensive bills. – John Ryan, Limerick
‘Child care workers are undervalued, underpaid and obviously forgettable’
The Early Childhood Sector are the front-line workers who reopened their services to reopen this country’s commerce and economy during a pandemic. Consistent governments continue to undermine our profession. We are undervalued, underpaid, and obviously forgettable. This budget added an insult to injury with a big zero to our sector. Millions for a Limerick prison, while research has shown that investing in the first few years will keep people out of prison, are more likely to work, pay taxes, maintain stable relationships, etc. 1 euro invested saves 7 euros in the future. What part does the government not get? – Mag Coogan
‘Tenants who pay taxes are completely ignored’
I am a millennial generation income tax and working tenant. Like most of us, I had been waiting for some income tax and / or a break from USC since 2011 when Fine Gael promised me. Also, rents have increased every year for the last eight years and I feel like I am getting less for my work efforts. Once again, it is discouraging that renters who pay income taxes are completely ignored. There was absolutely nothing for us on this budget. I’m not a Sinn Féin voter, but I feel like it’s worth the gamble next time we go to the polls at this rate. – Conor Boden, Dublin
‘I thought I would have to wait for my pension’
This budget has served me well. I am 65 years old and I thought that I would have to wait for my old age pension until 67, but I think that now I will receive it next year when I am 66. Happy days. – Mary Molloy, Co Kildare
‘Family caregivers will be worse off’
I work with Family Carers Ireland, the charity that supports Ireland’s 355,000 family caregivers who care for children, adults with disabilities and older people who need care in their own homes. Unfortunately, family caregivers will fare worse as a result of this budget, as the new carbon tax will eliminate the € 150 annual increase to the caregiver support grant. Despite saving the state 10 billion euros each year, caregivers have again been disappointed. There was no increase in income without taking caregiver allocation into account, even though it has not increased in 13 years. It was a missed opportunity for the government to show that it recognizes the value of our family caregivers and the work they do to shore up our health services. – Catherine Cox, Co Carlow
‘I will benefit from the new work-from-home schemes’
I will potentially benefit a little from this budget. I work from home and will benefit from the new plans for it. However, I will also lose a bit from the increase in carbon taxes on gasoline, but this will not affect me for some time. I am a market renter to buy my own home, so withholding the substantial grant for first time buyers would be a game changer for me, if the government can get properties built within my price range . – Laura Farrell
‘This budget has nothing for ordinary people’
It’s hard to see how there’s anything in the budget for workers. Note that Fine Gael, in particular, got his vote in the last general election with a pledge to reform income taxes, especially for the tight middle. There seems to have been a plethora of gifts given to everyone except the people who will eventually have to pay for all this generosity. We have additional taxes on fuel, and we have been told that it is going to cost even more to heat our houses this winter, but we have nothing to prove. That doesn’t seem very fair. The only bright light at the end of the tunnel for workers is that the retirement age will no longer be raised. But for many people, there is very little chance that we will retire anyway. This budget has absolutely nothing for ordinary people who are doing their best and pleasing an astonishing variety of special interest groups. I am not happy. – Suzanne McCarrick, Co Donegal
‘A balanced and reasonable budget’
There was nothing in the budget for the salaried class. However, I think it is a balanced and reasonable budget given the current situation due to the uncertainty of Covid-19 and Brexit. – Syed Haque, Dublin
‘Discrimination against older people in Ireland continues’
After all that they have suffered (and are suffering) through Covid, there is ongoing, shameful and typical discrimination against the elderly in Ireland. Even the usual insignificant increase in the old-age pension is denied them. However, the child benefit is increased by € 5 per week. And so the government’s biased attitude towards older people continues. Old lives matter! – Edward Boland
christmas bonus
It is good to know that the Christmas bonus will be paid to all who are entitled to it. It will be a relief for many people. – Helen Mullane
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