Budget 2014 gets thumbs down

AS THE dust settled on Budget 2014 last week, we asked our Facebook friends for their reaction. Here’s an edited selection of some of the comments we received.

Paul McAuliffe: I am very concerned that the removal of the Bereavement Grant will lead to low-income families borrowing from moneylenders following the death of a relative. The grant is something which is badly needed at a very difficult time.

Janet Dixon: So if you’re under 25 your Jobseekers is going to be e100 per week. You’re healthy so you can’t have a travel pass. You live in a rural area and have to use a bus to get around for interviews, if you’re lucky enough to get an interview. How far will that e100 go when you have paid for food etc? Show me any politician who would try to live for a month on that. It’s disgusting. Shame on them for treating the people, young and old, like this when Minister Noonan walks about with his big full belly and the rest of them don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or whether to put the heating on.

Marie Broderick: Cut from the cradle to the grave! This budget is an absolute disgrace. Once again the vulnerable have been targeted and the wealthy have gotten away totally free. How anyone could even think of taking away the phone allowance from OAPs is beyond me. As for the removal of the bereavement allowance, it beggars belief. Trying to say they’re cutting the Jobseekers’ Allowance as an incentive to young people to work is disingenuous to say the least. There aren’t any jobs out there for them. I think any TD who votes for this budget should hang his/her head in shame. It’s cruel, mean spirited and callous.

Anton Core: My friend, who is on Disability Allowance, is down about e200 a year because of the phone and prescription changes. Could you please find out how much TDs are down because of the budget. Let’s see if we are all in this together.

Geraldine Del Giudice: If you are disabled, old or young and unemployed, goodbye to your human rights. What sanctions did the TDs get? Shame on them. Enough said.

Manic Dol: I think a lot of people will be heading to the credit union for loans just to get by. It’s a disgrace putting so much stress on older people at their age. They worry about how they will live with having to pay out more than they could possibly earn. And as for young people, no wonder they’re emigrating. Last year’s budget was bad enough but this year has left them with no hope.

Zoe McCann: To sum it up in one word – shame.

Frances Mansfield: Fair for whom? Not the disabled or the aged. Cutting the telephone allowance while they kept their own mobile telephone allowance. No fear of them cutting that.

‘A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members’.

Darach Garland: The older people in our society will be afraid to spend any money now. It will be a long, cold and hungry winter for a lot of them.