Madam, – I am 75 years old, and some 16 years ago retired from one of the major Irish banks after 42 years service. Since then I have received a defined index-linked pension, which, on its own, would enable me to live comfortably, if not extravagantly, particularly at a time when my expenses are low, my family reared, mortgage paid, and my biggest expense is health insurance, generously subsidised by the State by way of tax relief. I would suggest that there are countless thousands throughout the State in a similar position.
Each month when I open my bank statement, I find that this State, which is on its financial knees, lodges €436.60 every week to my account. I look at my ESB bill and see credits for €95, my telephone bill €70. It appears that I am entitled to a TV licence and free travel for life.
I recently returned my medical card (the Government seem very slow to reveal how many cards were returned and the cost of retrieving them). I still pay only €100 a month for prescribed drugs for my wife and myself, I estimate the real cost at approximately €250 per month. In all, the State appears to subsidise me to the extent of €26,000 per annum.
For the past 20 years, I have been a volunteer worker with the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Most of my visitations have been to young mothers living on lone parent allowance in the region of €221 per week. In recent months their rent allowance has been cut by €100 or more per month. If they have children under six, this allowance has been halved, and will disappear at the end of the year. What sort of economic madness subsidises me to the extent of €26,000 per annum and substantially reduces allowances to the most vulnerable in our society?
Countless millions are paid in children’s allowance to wealthy people who simply do not need it. Surely this could be taxed or means-tested?
By all means continue to give, and increase pensions to those who have no other source of income or have modest private pensions.
We have ever-decreasing funds to distribute through our social welfare system, please, please Minister, distribute in a more equitable fashion. – Yours, etc,
RAY DOHERTY.
Dun Carraig,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.