Madam, – I believe no one is disputing the dire financial straits that this country is now in and that public spending must be reduced and curtailed. However, it would be difficult to find a more unjust and unfair method of saving money than by cutting the disability and carer’s allowances.
Saving on public spending also should mean looking at our politicians’ salaries. How can it be justified that some of our TDs are able to draw pensions while in receipt of a TD’s salary? This is a ridiculous practice which should be stopped now.
How much would the Government save by putting an end to all the various allowances granted to TDs sitting on committees, etc, together with the pension payments? There should also be a set amount for those who live outside Dublin which would cover overnights and meals. Why vouchers for meals are necessary is a mystery to me, as there is a very good restaurant in Dáil Éireann.
Let our politicians now live within their means and make these adjustments, and not just a 5 per cent cut in their salary, while trying to convince us they are taking 15 per cent. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Fás agency was involved in several major financial scandals over the past year including outrageous expenses, hugely generous early pensions and “corrupted courses”. On Budget day it was granted €56 million additional funding for training courses. Over the same period the only scandal associated with courses run by the VECs, such as Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, Senior Traveller Training Centres and Leaving Certificate Courses, was a shortage of places, yet these have seen decreases of funding to trainees and decreases in places available. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – “The worst is over”. I’ll drink to that. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The spectacle of well-heeled Ministers being driven through the gates of Dáil Éireann on the eve of the Budget in their shiny limousines was an obscenity, given the present economic climate and the affects of the Budget on so many poor people in the country. The words “Let them eat cake”, “knitting” and “the guillotine” come to mind. – Yours, etc,