Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

State spending €3million on communion rituals

Options
1…34689…16

Comments

  • Options
    #152
    meoklmrk91
    Registered Users Posts: 4,085 ✭✭✭meoklmrk91


    In fairness I know of mother who is on social welfare, has never worked a day in her life and there is going to be a limo to take her kid to and from the church. How many times have you seen kids being picked up by limos and horse drawn cartridges on the day of their communion. Its also these little girls who have full spray tans, false eyelashes, hair extensions, acrylic nails, and professionally done make up. It's disgusting in my opinion and to give these people any more money to dress their kids up like little barbie dolls and kens is going too far.


  • Options
    #153
    Lucy8080
    Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭Lucy8080


    maybe i have to put a bit of spirit into this converstaion against the money counters.

    i know u all have a neighbour /friend u are seething at internally/judging..and its killing ya...its eating u up inside

    but the child hasnt a clue where the money comes from.and does not have those stresses u are all suffering from. and if it recalls this when an adult...will make this world a little easier for all who come in contact with him/her.


  • Options
    #154
    Lucy8080
    Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭Lucy8080


    ninja...i get a kick out of you.

    bertie era...lol.

    this is for kids. kids living in a post celtic tiger ireland.

    we ve had our communions / confos...changed our beliefs...grown up...had our xmasses...

    what of it. whats the game now? deny those innocent days to todays kids because we have read some books?

    go after the real thiefs. 3 mill to make sure all kids have days we had ....its nothing.

    they will grow up and form their own opinions ...its an unavoidable world with the technology we have....

    lets let them keep their innocence ...it will not last as long as ours did.

    the best days of their little lives....let em have it. and lets not count the pennies for kids ..when the speculaters ripped billions for themselves.


  • Options
    #155
    Bookworm85
    Registered Users Posts: 247 ✭✭Bookworm85


    Lucy8080 wrote: »
    maybe i have to put a bit of spirit into this converstaion against the money counters.

    i know u all have a neighbour /friend u are seething at internally/judging..and its killing ya...its eating u up inside

    but the child hasnt a clue where the money comes from.and does not have those stresses u are all suffering from. and if it recalls this when an adult...will make this world a little easier for all who come in contact with him/her.

    What has this got to do with people abusing a welfare payment meant for people who are in genuine need?

    This has nothing to do with what the topic is about!

    And yes the child has little/limited/no knowledge of where the money comes from, but does that mean that it is ok for people to defraud the system in order to have a party, regardless of whether it is 'for the childer'.

    This whole attitude of 'its only 3 million' is rotten. The 3 million is for people who genuinely need it, not for 'religious' people to have a party and to line their kids pockets!


  • Options
    #156
    strobe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,872 ✭✭✭strobe


    I too, am outraged.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #157
    Lucy8080
    Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭Lucy8080


    lol,strobe.


  • Options
    #158
    Lucy8080
    Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭Lucy8080


    bookworm,

    the only people defrauding the system are those who are not entitled to the claim.

    if ya go through the system...those defrauding are targeting other areas of the system week in week out.


    some good parents need this little one off help out. im sure some dont ...but claim it all the same...nevertheless///ill take the small risk on a one off payment for the child.

    the big fraud is in other areas of the social welfare system...

    i went to two weddings in one year ....i wasnt claiming the dole...but i declined a third invite because i couldnt afford it.

    its a pressure...keeping face.


  • Options
    #159
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 33,867 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Lucy8080 wrote: »
    maybe i have to put a bit of spirit into this converstaion against the money counters.

    Given the reduced circumstances of our nation, we are all now money counters.

    i know u all have a neighbour /friend u are seething at internally/judging..and its killing ya...its eating u up inside

    Nope, if I did they'd have been reported for welfare fraud ages ago.
    This is nothing personal. It's about the abuse of public money.
    The government has no money - it only has our money (taxes) or borrowing (paid by future taxes.)

    but the child hasnt a clue where the money comes from.and does not have those stresses u are all suffering from.

    Great but we can't be age 7 forever and expect other people to pick up all our bills - or can we?

    and if it recalls this when an adult...will make this world a little easier for all who come in contact with him/her.

    yeah, that's great, really gives me a warm feeling inside to know that some net drain on society feels better about themselves.

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Options
    #160
    Lucy8080
    Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭Lucy8080


    ninja...ur trying too hard. i think u have a great future ahead of u.


    what was that about xmas and pagans again...knocked my socks off.

    the reduced circumstances of our nation..omy.

    abuse of public money...omy.

    cant be 7 forever...omy.

    that net drain on society...does that come from treating kids well /or unwell.

    i hope u have applied for the civil service...one day u will be minister of finance...and all our probs will be over.


  • Options
    #161
    Bookworm85
    Registered Users Posts: 247 ✭✭Bookworm85


    Lucy8080 wrote: »
    bookworm,

    the only people defrauding the system are those who are not entitled to the claim.

    if ya go through the system...those defrauding are targeting other areas of the system week in week out.


    some good parents need this little one off help out. im sure some dont ...but claim it all the same...nevertheless///ill take the small risk on a one off payment for the child.

    the big fraud is in other areas of the social welfare system...

    i went to two weddings in one year ....i wasnt claiming the dole...but i declined a third invite because i couldnt afford it.

    its a pressure...keeping face.

    Is that a dig at me lucy? I have no problem openly admitting that I went to weddings when I was in receipt of my claim, however if you read my original post on this thread again you will see that there were others that I was invited to but didn't go to because I couldn't afford it. At no time did I consider asking the Social Welfare to give me extra funds to send me off to enjoy a party, or to dress myself for these occassions. I budgeted and saved what I could and used these savings to attend.

    Ok maybe fraud was the wrong choice of words, maybe 'taking advantage' would suit my stance properly.

    Like I said before I have no problem with people claiming this payment if the GENUINELY need it, but to claim such funds when you have had years to budget and save is morally wrong. I could care less if its 'for the kids', that money is for people who are genuinely suffering hardship, not for people wanting to get dressed up for a 'religious/cultural' event

    I have no doubt that there is real 'fraud' going on within the SW system, and if I ever come across anybody committing such fraud I'll have no hesitation in reporting them to the authorities.

    You still haven't answered my question in my last post to you.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #162
    Lucy8080
    Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭Lucy8080


    bookworm

    actually ,it was not a dig, im sure ur claims were legitimate. but im sure also you could have forseen being invited to weddings when you hit a certain age.

    like i could. but i didnt save for them.

    the fact u were claiming and i was not when they occurred , is neither here nor there.

    the expense was beyond both our means to accept all invites.

    for some parents the expense of a communnion hits them...despite their unplanned circumstances....


    and aint it much easier for me or you to lose face personally...

    in comparison to losing face for a child of ours. that hurts. ask a parent.

    apologies if my last post to you was worded in a way that gave offence.


  • Options
    #163
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 33,867 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Lucy8080 wrote: »
    the expense was beyond both our means to accept all invites.

    Suck it up. My brother in law works very hard, never on the dole in his life, but can't afford to accept all the wedding invitations he's got in the last couple of years.

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Options
    #164
    Lucy8080
    Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭Lucy8080


    ninja...you make me laugh. #.


  • Options
    #165
    MrPudding
    Registered Users Posts: 9,788 ✭✭✭MrPudding


    @Lucy8080, you seem to think that people are suggesting we cancel communion. No one is saying that. No one is saying kids can't have their special day. All that is being said is the taxpayer should not be paying for it.

    I think your attempt to connect SW payments for communion with economic activity is a little odd as well. I presume you are joking? Either way, why would the amount of money a child collects from relatives be dependent on whether or not the family received a SW payment towards the event?

    The communion is not cancelled if they don't receive the payment, it still goes ahead.

    People should be lobbying their priests to convince them to make communion more affordable for families. They have the power to dictate what can be worn for the ceremony, and many of them already have a school uniform only policy.

    The tax payer should not be paying for this, so I am quite happy with the reduction, though I would have been happier with the payments stopping completely.

    On a related note, the article also mentions the cutting of funding for furniture for many. I am less happy with this as I think that is something that is justifiable in certain circumstances.

    MrP


  • Options
    #166
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,295 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    MrPudding wrote: »
    The tax payer should not be paying for this, so I am quite happy with the reduction, though I would have been happier with the payments stopping completely.
    i still think this is a sideshow compared to the fact that communion is an opt-out rather than an opt-in in 90% of schools in ireland.

    i'd be curious to hear (though i doubt records are kept) of how many parents choose to remove their kids from communion preparations. do i remember reading a thread on here about someone who met with resistance from the school on the matter?


  • Options
    #167
    Ickle Magoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,485 ✭✭✭✭Ickle Magoo


    Even if the ceremony IS opt-out - which part of a €20 gown requires hundreds of euros of tax-payers money being taken from coffers set aside for those with genuine exceptional needs.

    How many nurses or SNA's would three million a year fund? It's just mind boggling in this apparent "austerity" when cuts are being made in education, health, adult education - things that can really change peoples lives that €3mil gets thrown away on something as frivolous as a knees up for one religion and there are actually people defending that practice. Mind boggling. :confused:


  • Options
    #168
    Delirium
    Moderators Posts: 51,708 ✭✭✭✭Delirium


    Indeed. Must have been a right kick in the teeth to people who have relatives on trolleys in hospitals when they heard about this payment.

    If you can read this, you're too close!



  • Options
    #169
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 33,867 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Only the 'professional' SW claimants would have been aware of this payment up until now.

    Given all the publicity, the number of claims this year is probably going to go through the roof... senseless to acknowledge that a payment is unjustified but then cut it instead of abolishing it entirely. Senseless, but typical.

    This government has no cojones (thanks to Labour). Mini-budget on the way as the optimistic growth figures get shown up. More taxes on working people so the 'vulnerable' professional SW claimaints can continue in the lifestyle they've become accustomed to.

    The longer this sort of crap continues, the greater the likelihood of an Irish Thatcher coming along to really shake things up :)

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Options
    #170
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,295 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    and then we'll *really* be ****ed.


  • Options
    #171
    iguana
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 12,909 Mod ✭✭✭✭iguana


    koth wrote: »
    Indeed. Must have been a right kick in the teeth to people who have relatives on trolleys in hospitals when they heard about this payment.
    Too true. I was in Tallaght hospital last month, having spenty first night on a trolley by a door, following a sixteen hour wait in a&e, when it was announced on the news that 50 beds were to be shut. It's utterly sickening that this money is being wasted when our health care system is such mess.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #172
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    ninja900 wrote: »

    This government has no cojones (thanks to Labour).

    You're referring to the current Government which has cut back dramatically on this particular allowance for the first time in a generation?

    ninja900 wrote: »

    The longer this sort of crap continues, the greater the likelihood of an Irish Thatcher coming along to really shake things up :)
    We've had the Irish Thatcher, and the good people of Ireland sent Harney and the PDs and their promises to 'be radical' packing.


  • Options
    #173
    Kivaro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    iguana wrote: »
    Too true. I was in Tallaght hospital last month, having spenty first night on a trolley by a door, following a sixteen hour wait in a&e, when it was announced on the news that 50 beds were to be shut. It's utterly sickening that this money is being wasted when our health care system is such mess.

    Being out foreign, I had a friend from Ireland visiting me during the week. On the highway we passed a digital sign that stated a '5 minute' wait at our local hospital ER. On they way back, it was '12 minutes'. He was dumbfounded.

    Just sayin' .................... things can be 'fixed' with the right mentality.


  • Options
    #174
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 33,867 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    SerialComplaint wrote: »
    You're referring to the current Government which has cut back dramatically on this particular allowance for the first time in a generation?

    But didn't have the balls to abolish it entirely, as they should have done.
    We've had the Irish Thatcher, and the good people of Ireland sent Harney and the PDs and their promises to 'be radical' packing.

    Are you kidding me? Harney and her party enabled 'socialist' Bertie to whack up public expenditure like it was going out of style, including massive SW increases which are politically very difficult to claw back. She agreed with the idiotic decentralisation scheme that wasted well over €1 billion. She was a member of the government which introduced benchmarking and allowed public sector numbers to grow strongly. She herself introduced the minimum wage and then increased to a high level compared with our competitors. Do these sound like the actions of a so-called right winger?

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Options
    #175
    Galvasean
    Registered Users Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    Hmmm, last 5 or 6 pages have consisted of Lucy8080 repeating the argument "But it's nice!!" while displaying no concept of priorities.
    3 million per year is nothing? How many Gardaí or nurses could the state employ to do some actual good with that money?


  • Options
    #176
    Delirium
    Moderators Posts: 51,708 ✭✭✭✭Delirium


    the fund should be renamed from "exceptional needs payment" to "keeping up appearances/with the Joneses payment"

    If you can read this, you're too close!



  • Options
    #177
    gcgirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,044 ✭✭✭gcgirl


    Take communion and confirmation out of schools completely, if you want to teach your kids do it yourself on your own back, I can garentee less people will be making their communion/confirmation as most don't even bother with Sunday mass and then you will see less claims being made :)


  • Options
    #178
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,295 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    Galvasean wrote: »
    3 million per year is nothing? How many Gardaí or nurses could the state employ to do some actual good with that money?
    50, possibly.
    i know of a single public organisation - and not the largest one by any stretch - which has according to my source, 39 people employed in the recruitment section in HR. they haven't hired anyone in about three years.


  • Options
    #179
    MagicMarker
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    50, possibly.
    i know of a single public organisation - and not the largest one by any stretch - which has according to my source, 39 people employed in the recruitment section in HR. they haven't hired anyone in about three years.
    How can they when we're giving 3 million euro away to people so they can buy dresses?


  • Options
    #180
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,295 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    all we need to do is fix the communion dress problem and we'll be able to reinstate the metro programme and give bertie back his state car.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #181
    SerialComplaint
    Registered Users Posts: 2,644 ✭✭✭SerialComplaint


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    50, possibly.
    i know of a single public organisation - and not the largest one by any stretch - which has according to my source, 39 people employed in the recruitment section in HR. they haven't hired anyone in about three years.
    Please name the public organisation. You're not breaching any confidentiality, as the staffing of public bodies is in the public domain.
    ninja900 wrote: »
    But didn't have the balls to abolish it entirely, as they should have done.
    You need to bring people with you in politics. There is no point in doing the right thing if you get so many people's backs up that you lose control of your agenda. At a guess, the significant cutback was test, and the complete elimination will be a year or two down the line.
    ninja900 wrote: »
    Are you kidding me? Harney and her party enabled 'socialist' Bertie to whack up public expenditure like it was going out of style, including massive SW increases which are politically very difficult to claw back. She agreed with the idiotic decentralisation scheme that wasted well over €1 billion. She was a member of the government which introduced benchmarking and allowed public sector numbers to grow strongly. She herself introduced the minimum wage and then increased to a high level compared with our competitors. Do these sound like the actions of a so-called right winger?
    Harney privatised anything she could, and forced the HSE and public bodies to spend a fortune on preparing for her pet project - co-location. She lowered taxes on the rich and bought in a wide variety of tax breaks for the wealthy. The Irish people kicked her out.


Advertisement