Budget is a ‘Slap in the face’
Anti-elderly; anti-young; anti-women
Latest cuts hitting home in Inishowen
Tuesday’s seventh consecutive austerity Budget has been roundly slammed by angry representatives from various groups across Inishowen.
Moville pensioners, Sister Finian Hegarty and Michael McDermott, described the increase in prescription charges and cuts to the phone allowance and medical card as a ‘slap in the face’ to older people.
“The Budget is shocking, it’s a disgrace that they would inflict this agony on people. The increased prescription charge will have a massive impact. I am on 12 different tablets a day so that will cost me €25 a month – that is a lot of money,” Sister Finan said.
Michael McDermott also raised concerns about the state of the health service, which he says is in ‘turmoil’.
“I need a triple bypass but I have been waiting for three years and I have no idea when I’m going to have the operation. This government needs to sort out the health system. The government and banks left this country on its knees, now it is us who are suffering because of it,” he blasted.
Councillor Jack Murray also blasted the Budget, claiming it will accelerate Inishowen’s ‘emigration crisis’.
“This was an opportunity to invest in young people but instead student fees have increased again and the jobseekers allowance has been cut to €100. This has robbed many young people of hope when they need it most,” he said.
Carn publican Robert Cunningham said Tuesday’s Budget is a ‘final nail in the coffin’ for the pub trade while local mother Helen Nolan described it is “anti-women and anti-family.”
Carn primary school principal Albert Doherty said the sector breathed a sigh of relief that class sizes weren’t increased but warned that small schools still face losing teachers and that capitation grants remain inadequate.
TD Charlie McConalogue labelled the Budget a ‘brutal betrayal’ of older people while Deputy Joe McHugh said it was ‘tough’ but ‘pro enterprise’.
