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The wrong cuts....again: Pension/VEC

  • 12-10-2010 7:29pm
    #1
    Shea O'Meara
    Closed Accounts Posts: 960 ✭✭✭


    Just looking at the upcoming budget.

    Yesterday there was hinting on behalf of Brian Lenihan that pensions won't avoid cuts.

    Today we have;

    'The number of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) is to be cut from 33 to 16 through the merger of existing VECs, it was announced today.'
    http://news.eircom.net/breakingnews/18756680/?view=Standard

    Classroom over crowding and school facilities were never properly addressed during the period of the boom. Yet it seems to be always first on the list when it comes to cutbacks.

    If I were a pensioner having been told by succesive FFail chancers, (Haughey, Ahern now seemingly Cowen) that I need to tighten my belt, to only retire and be told to do so again, I would be, lets say peeved, to say the least.

    As regards the VEC, this is the only post leaving cert route for a hell of a lot of people looking to further their education or learn a skill. It can also be used as a stepping stone to a college or university.
    However phrased, these cuts mean fewer places and for those outside of major cities, limited access.
    Why halve a mechanism which produces people eager to become skilled and work. Surely this move will only increase the length of the dole queue and for a longer period?

    Yes we need to raise the money somewhere, but have a good think about it first or are they just choosing the path of least resistance as I suspect?

    Suggestions just off the top:
    RTE, I could put up with one channel. Seriously, one pretty good Irish programmed channel, cut away the chaff.
    Judges have a man Friday called a 'tipper' who mows their lawn, waits on them. A state financed butler pretty much.'
    Bring the CE scheme element of FÁS in with the social welfare office in so far as downsizing, hopefully less chance of fraud in the future for one thing.
    T.D's....one man/woman one pension. No doubling for duel state roles.


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