What is the most goverment can take off social welfare?

Susie_Q wrote: »

Then I assume you're living at home with Mummy and Daddy who pay for your electricity, gas, food, household cleaning products etc? Get real.

No thats all free via the electricity, heat ,food and gas fairy.

syklops wrote: »

How much are you spending on household cleaning products that you have put it in the same category as ESB and Gas? :eek:


With careful budgeting you can live on very little. Its amazing how little you can live on if you put your mind to it. There are bargains to be had everywhere, if you look for it.

Beans on toast is a tasty and nutritious snack which costs very little to make. A hell of a lot less than a 7 Euro Panini.

I think Susie was just pointing out that they are not free, most kiddos on the dole think everything is free.

I didn't even know a panini was €7 but I know a can of beans is 25c

homerjay2005 wrote: »

would cut the single parents allowance by 50%, if you want to have kids, then its your choice to feed them and cloth them.

How is punishing the children for the 'sins' of the parents going to help? It may make you feel better to see many more children delivered into poverty because of a predisposed view you have of lone parents, but I honestly hope the government sees that not all lone parents are availing of this allowance to live the life of luxury you seem to think they are.

For each recipient, there are countless different stories of how they got to that point. Of course there will be chancers, as in every walk of life, but I suspect the majority of single parent families are simply trying to get by on very little, same as a lot of other families.

However, I would definitely advocate cutting the child benefit for higher earners. in my view, anyone who can afford to live without it, should.

I would also abolish the Seanad, overhaul the T.D's expenses system and take a long, hard look at the immigration policy employed in this country. When unemployment is running at 12%, supporting a growing number of asylum seekers entering the country, as well as it's own citizens surely can't continue in the current climate without something starting to buckle.

Cutting overseas aid is also another viable option for the same reasons.

topper75 wrote: »

The dole is looking rather heavy at almost €200 a week versus the £65 across the pond. Interesting times.

Shame that the cost of living this side of the pond is far higher

dark crystal wrote: »

However, I would definitely advocate cutting the child benefit for higher earners. in my view, anyone who can afford to live without it, should.

so the people who pay the most tax to keep the social welfare pot nice and high dont get any return whatsoever from the state.

i hate this idea.

zeds alive wrote: »

Shame that the cost of living this side of the pond is far higher

Some things can be a little higher I'll grant you zeds. Far higher? Probably not. Some things e.g fuel can even be lower here.

If you ask me, generous welfare payments might have their own, not insignificant, role in generating higher prices in our economy.

Rent relief would be a good instance of this. It is an artificial floor for the entire house rental market. When our housing market is oversupplied as it is, such an artificial price floor is a very ugly, not to mention ludicrous, distortion.

Either way the discrepancy between €200 and £65 is one to be reckoned with. And reckon with it they will.

Its far cheaper across the pond, a mate of mine lives in Essex and and is dumbfounded at the cost of living when he comes back to Ireland.

earlyevening wrote: »

FYI, here are the figures which indicate the dramatic rise in unemployment benefit in the last few years.

Budget 2000: €96.50
Budget 2001: €106.66 (+10.5%)
Budget 2002: €118.80 (+11.3%)
Budget 2003: €124.80 (+5%)
Budget 2004: €134.80 (+8%)
Budget 2005: €148.80 (+10.3%)
Budget 2006: €165.80 (+11.4%)
Budget 2007: €185.80 (+12%)
Budget 2008: €197.80 (+6.4%)
Budget 2009: €204.80 (+3.5%) .

Jesus. I never realised it more than doubled in 10 years :eek: If people could live on €96.50 a week in 2000, then people should be able to live off significantly less than €196 a week in 2011. 10% would be a good cut IMO, but no way would the government have the balls.

bryaner wrote: »

Its far cheaper across the pond, a mate of mine lives in Essex and and is dumbfounded at the cost of living when he comes back to Ireland.

Two words for your mate: Council Tax.

ibarelycare wrote: »

Jesus. I never realised it more than doubled in 10 years :eek: If people could live on €96.50 a week in 2000, then people should be able to live off significantly less than €196 a week in 2011. 10% would be a good cut IMO, but no way would the government have the balls.

Balls to shaft the welfare vote isn't as big as the balls required to shaft the ECB hand that feeds us. They have to slash it.

topper75 wrote: »

Two words for your mate: Council Tax.



Balls to shaft the welfare vote isn't as big as the balls required to shaft the ECB hand that feeds us. They have to slash it.

Yes council tax and all you get with it!

How Council Tax is spent

Further information: Local government in England, Local government in Wales, and Local government in Scotland
Although it is the only tax which is set by local government, the Council Tax contributes only a small proportion (25%, on average) of local government revenue. The majority comes from central government grants and from business rates which are collected centrally and redistributed to local authorities.
Local government provide services such as police, fire, recycling, refuse collection and removal, schools, leisure centres, park and ride schemes, parks and open spaces, street cleaning, subsidising of public transport, tourism, museums, social housing grants, housing and council tax benefits, environmental health and food safety in pubs, restaurants and shops, planning services, support for voluntary groups, meals on wheels, facilities for young people, adapting homes for disabled people, play centres for children, cctv installation, sports facilities, issuing taxi licences, flood defences, and many others.
A significant proportion of local government services are stipulated by central government in the form of statutory provision. Local councils are obliged by law to provide these services. The remainder of services are discretionary and are determined by the local council.

bryaner wrote: »

Yes council tax and all you get with it!

I'm not arguing that you get nothing from it.

I'm arguing the reality that it is an additional expense for people living in Britain. They have no choice in it. We pay none. (yet!:eek:)

Your mate from Essex came over to visit. He didn't weigh up everything when making his assertion.

I worked in Britain there lately and came home to earn an equivalent salary in euros. I can actually save more here when the spending is done(not by much mind you!).