Free Holidays abroad for poor families?

Andy From Sligo

OK , I might not be very popular with what I am gonna say next .... but stuffit

You know the weather is sh!te at the moment, and on the whole apart from one year where there was quite a good summer years ago, i think this summer is going to be a washout in Ireland again.

So, posh people and people with a lot of money and good jobs and people that have saved up more than likely are gonna take themselves and their families on a week or 2 somewhere nice and hot abroad in the school holidays just to make up for the monotony of rainy drizzly summer days , just to break up the monotony so at least when the kids go back to school they and the parents can at least say they had a week or 2 of good weather in the school holidays.

Now, what about families that cannot afford a holiday somewhere hot abroad this summer - what if I were to say (and its most probably a barmy idea) but how about a one off payment in the summertime from the dole or social welfare (and means tested) whereby the parents can go to the social and say they want to take their children on holiday this summer for a week but cannot afford it cause the parents are out of work. (maybe use the money what the social welfare give them at christmas time/christmas bonus)

Is it too much of a barmey Idea? - why should the children (poor/deprived) loose out on having a summer holiday, a week away at least, because their parents are un-employed and cannot afford to take the kids on holiday?

Would the tax payer begrudge this .... would they begrudge this idea more than the unemployed getting a christmas bonus at christmas time?

over to you

Winterlong

Great idea. But just for the scumbags who will never work and bleed the system.
One way ticket to The Costa De Somalia.

Letree

Yes i would begrudge this. Nobody needs a holiday. It is a luxury and a luxury that many working people can't even afford. No way would i support the tax payer paying for holidays.

I wasn't abroad until i was 18 myself.

kneemos

You may encounter some cynicism.
Remain calm and steadfast.

RobertKK

My father will be 90 years old in a number of weeks, he never had a foreign holiday and it did him no harm.

darkpagandeath

A dole thread on AH well I never.

keith16

Someone please murder me.

Red Kev

Who do you work for, Sinn Fein or AAA/PBP?

Noo

*gets popcorn*

I can see where this will go already. Years ago i started a thread in social welfare asking about missing payment collections because i was going on a three week holiday. I got crucified, how dare an unemployed person take a holiday!

Stuff people didnt know about my situation.... i was only getting €40 a week from welfare, i had some savings from when i worked during my college summer holidays, it was a family holiday and i was staying with family abroad, all i was paying for was my flights. If the good people of boards didnt agree with me taking that holiday then they sure as hell wont agree with your suggestion. For the record I dont agree with it, if i couldn't afford my holiday i would not have gone,. I had it paid for before i started claiming my €40 welfare.

I never had a holiday abroad until I was 23 & I could pay for it myself.

That's life

Noo

Noo wrote: »

*gets popcorn*

I can see where this will go already. Years ago i started a thread in social welfare asking about missing payment collections because i was going on a three week holiday. I got crucified, how dare an unemployed person take a holiday!

Stuff people didnt know about my situation.... i was only getting €40 a week from welfare, i had some savings from when i worked during my college summer holidays, it was a family holiday and i was staying with family abroad, all i was paying for was my flights. If the good people of boards didnt agree with me taking that holiday then they sure as hell wont agree with your suggestion.

Big difference, you weren't actually looking for a free overseas holiday

kneemos

keith16 wrote: »

Someone please murder me.

Then I can have a holiday in prison.

mickdw

Make the means test based on take home pay which includes income from welfare and I'm all for it.
You will then find its the actual low paid workers or single income families that will qualify for holiday grant.
As it stands, social welfare income appears to not count as income in many instances whereas before tax income seems to be what is counted for workers.
And don't even get me started on the self employed and how poorly we are treated. At least I might get a paid holiday under your scheme.

Andy From Sligo

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

OK , I might not be very popular with what I am gonna say next .... but stuffit

You know the weather is sh!te at the moment, and on the whole apart from one year where there was quite a good summer years ago, i think this summer is going to be a washout in Ireland again.

So, posh people and people with a lot of money and good jobs and people that have saved up more than likely are gonna take themselves and their families on a week or 2 somewhere nice and hot abroad in the school holidays just to make up for the monotony of rainy drizzly summer days , just to break up the monotony so at least when the kids go back to school they and the parents can at least say they had a week or 2 of good weather in the school holidays.

Now, what about families that cannot afford a holiday somewhere hot abroad this summer - what if I were to say (and its most probably a barmy idea) but how about a one off payment in the summertime from the dole or social welfare (and means tested) whereby the parents can go to the social and say they want to take their children on holiday this summer for a week but cannot afford it cause the parents are out of work. (maybe use the money what the social welfare give them at christmas time/christmas bonus)

Is it too much of a barmey Idea? - why should the children (poor/deprived) loose out on having a summer holiday, a week away at least, because their parents are un-employed and cannot afford to take the kids on holiday?

Would the tax payer begrudge this .... would they begrudge this idea more than the unemployed getting a christmas bonus at christmas time?

over to you

St Vincent de Paul do actually supply holidays in this country for deserving families.
They don't need to go overseas

Mec27

If you cant vacation around europe in 2016 for even a weekend then you must be a lazy bum. 40 quid return to paris.

Vic_08

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

OK , I might not be very popular with what I am gonna say next .... but stuffit

You know the weather is sh!te at the moment, and on the whole apart from one year where there was quite a good summer years ago, i think this summer is going to be a washout in Ireland again.

So, posh people and people with a lot of money and good jobs and people that have saved up more than likely are gonna take themselves and their families on a week or 2 somewhere nice and hot abroad in the school holidays just to make up for the monotony of rainy drizzly summer days , just to break up the monotony so at least when the kids go back to school they and the parents can at least say they had a week or 2 of good weather in the school holidays.

Now, what about families that cannot afford a holiday somewhere hot abroad this summer - what if I were to say (and its most probably a barmy idea) but how about a one off payment in the summertime from the dole or social welfare (and means tested) whereby the parents can go to the social and say they want to take their children on holiday this summer for a week but cannot afford it cause the parents are out of work. (maybe use the money what the social welfare give them at christmas time/christmas bonus)

Is it too much of a barmey Idea? - why should the children (poor/deprived) loose out on having a summer holiday, a week away at least, because their parents are un-employed and cannot afford to take the kids on holiday?

Would the tax payer begrudge this .... would they begrudge this idea more than the unemployed getting a christmas bonus at christmas time?

over to you

They don't work, their whole lives are a fukking holiday.

Noo

bubblypop wrote: »

Big difference, you weren't actually looking for a free overseas holiday

My point exactly! If people were against me taking a holiday, then the freebie holoday suggestion will be torn to shreads. As it should be.

Lets throw in some spa treatments also.

Thoie

Going abroad on holidays is not a human right. The majority of the older people on Boards didn't grow up with annual holidays abroad, or necessarily holidays in Ireland either. If you had an auntie or a granny that lived in another part of the country, you might have gone there for a while during the summer, at best.

I holiday when I can afford it. If for some reason I can't afford it some years, I don't go. I've been very fortunate that I have been able to take a foreign holiday over the last few years, but if I had a sudden major expense, that would take precedence.

I could be persuaded that social welfare might contribute to educational school trips that those kids would otherwise miss out on, but I don't see a week in the sun as a necessity.

There used be somewhere called Clara Laragh where underprivileged kids would go for a summer camp for a week. A quick google shows that it doesn't seem to be that kind of place any more, but you may find there are alternatives around the country.

myshirt

Send them all to Sligo, they can stay at your gaff Andy.

CFlat

myshirt wrote: »

Send them all to Sligo, they can stay at your gaff Andy.

Send them to Sligo? Have you not got a humane bone in your body you animal!

Andy From Sligo

myshirt wrote: »

Send them all to Sligo, they can stay at your gaff Andy.

They wont get a holiday if they stayed at my gaff - id get them doing bits and pieces and by the time they have spent with me they *will* need a holiday!

Alf Stewart.

Holiday = a rest from something.

Most likely work.

Why should unemployed people get a holiday from something they haven't been doing




Next up.



Working folk should be made unemployed for a week with no pay.


Andy, your whole thread is flawed mate.

Andy From Sligo

Mec27 wrote: »

If you cant vacation around europe in 2016 for even a weekend then you must be a lazy bum. 40 quid return to paris.

yep thats flight sorted, what about accommodation, spending money, travel insurance , €4 for a cup of coffee or ice cream, entrance fees to get into attractions ...

CFlat

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

yep thats flight sorted, what about accommodation, spending money, travel insurance , €4 for a cup of coffee or ice cream, entrance fees to get into attractions ...

Well you could sort that out by giving them all credit cards with say a limit of 1000 euro so they don't get too carried away.

YFlyer

Poor mans Kilkee in Limerick city. Popular spot.

YFlyer

CFlat wrote: »

Well you could sort that out by giving them all credit cards with say a limit of 1000 euro so they don't get too carried away.

Paid by who?

Lyaiera

I have heard many practising psychiatrist's (one a Consultant in Dublin) say that if it were possible the first thing they would prescribe for many mental health issues is a holiday. They say that one of the key differences in the occurrence and the prognosis of people with mental health issues is related to income, where people with less income can't afford holidays, while people with more can and do take holidays.

CFlat

YFlyer wrote: »

Paid by who?

The World Health Organisation? I doubt if they'd pony up for it but I suppose we could ask them.

Andy From Sligo

you imagine the moral boosting for the kids let alone the parents to give them just 1 weeks holiday out of the whole year, you cant pay for that kind of happiness

and if it were a problem family with 10 year ol kids joyriding around estates it will give people on the estates a weeks holiday from the problem family - its win win for everyone!

FortySeven

keith16 wrote: »

Someone please murder me.

Pm me for location and we can pact.

Andy From Sligo

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

you imagine the moral boosting for the kids let alone the parents to give them just 1 weeks holiday out of the whole year, you cant pay for that kind of happiness

and if it were a problem family with 10 year ol kids joyriding around estates it will give people on the estates a weeks holiday from the problem family - its win win for everyone!

Like said already, svdp give holidays in Ireland to deserving families .

Lyaiera

bubblypop wrote: »

Like said already, svdp give holidays in Ireland to deserving families .

Aye, and there's a fair few charities taking sick kids and their families who can't afford holidays to places like Euro Disney.

Andy From Sligo

bubblypop wrote: »

Like said already, svdp give holidays in Ireland to deserving families .

holidays in Ireland!!!!! - feck off with all that ! that aint abroad with sun and heat and change of scenery and language etc is it?

Andy From Sligo

Lyaiera wrote: »

Aye, and there's a fair few charities taking sick kids and their families who can't afford holidays to places like Euro Disney.

why should sick kids only experience the fun - that's discrimination that is...

Lyaiera

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

why should sick kids only experience the fun - that's discrimination that is...

I don't think charities are discriminating by focusing their efforts on one particular situation in need of attention. If they looked at everything they'd never get anything done.

I would be in favour of some type of holiday grant, or holiday allowance for people who don't have the income for it (whether they work or not,) if it was feasible economically and politically. I don't think it is feasible though.

People are working on it but there's a battle playing out, essentially between believers in the United Federation of Planets and believers in the Ferengi Alliance.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

maybe for the working poor who are busting their balls with no dole or rent allowance and can't afford a holiday

not a hope for anyone getting dole or rent allowance or who has a medical card

Andy From Sligo

georgiecasey wrote: »

maybe for the working poor who are busting their balls with no dole or rent allowance and can't afford a holiday

not a hope for anyone getting dole or rent allowance or who has a medical card

discriminating again ...

"sorry kids you cannot have a holiday abroad because your mam and da are getting dole and rent allowance"

kids (especially little ones) cannot understand how Tommy can have a week or 2 in Ibiza in the school holidays and they had to put up with a couple of days in Tralee ...

Andy From Sligo

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

discriminating again ...

"sorry kids you cannot have a holiday abroad because your mam and da are getting dole and rent allowance"

kids (especially little ones) cannot understand how Tommy can have a week or 2 in Ibiza in the school holidays and they had to put up with a couple of days in Tralee ...

Well maybe those kids should be told ' we don't have any money, therefore we can't go on holidays '

Seems simple enough to me.
That's what I heard when I was young.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

over to you

trolling is a art

Andy From Sligo

bubblypop wrote: »

Well maybe those kids should be told ' we don't have any money, therefore we can't go on holidays '

Seems simple enough to me.
That's what I heard when I was young.

like they are old enough to understand the economics and finances of that.

just because we grew up years ago with financial hardships it dont mean it has to be forced on our children these days - theres loads of things I didnt get as a kid but it doesnt mean I have restricted my own childrens lives because of that, where I can help it. - and it hasnt made them spoilt or know any less about momentary values and the cost of stuff

ahnowbrowncow

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

like they are old enough to understand the economics and finances of that.

just because we grew up years ago with financial hardships it dont mean it has to be forced on our children these days - theres loads of things I didnt get as a kid but it doesnt mean I have restricted my own childrens lives because of that, where I can help it. - and it hasnt made them spoilt or know any less about momentary values and the cost of stuff

Please go to bed Andy and let's forget this thread ever happened.

nhunter100

Andy From Sligo wrote:

Would the tax payer begrudge this .... would they begrudge this idea more than the unemployed getting a christmas bonus at christmas time?

Simple get a job, save up and go on holiday like any one else. Shocking I know but not exactly novel.

Lyaiera

nhunter100 wrote: »

Simple get a job, save up and go on holiday like any one else. Shocking I know but not exactly novel.

No, it's in no way novel.

ger664

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

discriminating again ...

"sorry kids you cannot have a holiday abroad because your mam and da are working and paying taxes so people can get dole and rent allowance"

kids (especially little ones) cannot understand how Tommy can have a week or 2 in Ibiza in the school holidays and they had to put up with a couple of days in Tralee ...

FYP

Ruu

Only first class, all expenses paid, spending money, etc. Andy From Sligo for Teashock!

Andy From Sligo

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

Please go to bed Andy and let's forget this thread ever happened.

couldnt sleep because of this mad idea i had....

Kitty6277

nhunter100 wrote: »

Simple get a job, save up and go on holiday like any one else. Shocking I know but not exactly novel.

If only it were that easy though

teddyhead

I know parents of severely disabled kids who could seriously do with a break. Scumbags eh ?
Will you reactionary muppets ever get a grip?

teddyhead

teddyhead wrote: »

I know parents of severely disabled kids who could seriously do with a break. Scumbags eh ?
Will you reactionary muppets ever get a grip?

This is not about respite for those who have profoundly disabled children at all.

The OP never mentioned that issue.

It was...free hols for the poor. I wouldn't say an appalling idea, but the simple fact is that it'd lead to people working away unable to go on holidays looking at this person or that jetting off to the sun and feeling aggrieved, or headlines of the "family of 8 receiving €750 pw and free house enjoy €5k holiday". It would completely discredit the system of social protection.

eire2009

It would be nice in theory, but there is a higher percentage of people on the dole with problematic behavior adding alcohol and council estate kids to the equation in your average working class Spanish resort, will cause problems.

The best way would be to have a free class holiday for everyone where you reward children for their work and good behavior in class instead of rewarding parents for their life choices.