District Court judge: Replace social welfare money with vouchers

IngazZagni wrote: »

I hear ya man, I chose a bad example. Change the a to an o and it's a better example
And to reiterate I know the vast majority barely have enough to get by, I'm only saying in theory you shouldn't be able to buy luxury items because this should have all been spent on the basics.



Well this is it isn't it. It's just like being in a union (most anyway). Scum from the outside but hey I won't complain if I'm in a company with a Union.

I'm trying to look at it from a neutral perspective. The job seekers allowance should give you enough to get by but little enough so it gets you up off your ass and handing in CV's on every street corner.

So what is little enough? Eat rice/pasta for a week straight or have a decently stocked cupboard?

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Unless the crimes in question are of a pretty trivial nature would it not be time to start thinking about .....you know......a stretch in the big house ?

Well the judge mentioned Public Order Offences and Drug use. If you were to place all of that lot in the prisons they would have to reopen Kilmainham, Cork City Gaol and Spike Island to have to deal with the offenders from the first week alone!

wolfpawnat wrote: »

Too many different things people buy with their payments. Some have transport costs, others spend more on food that clothes. Some people have higher bills than other.

So solution, if someone is in front of the courts for more than 5 crimes in a 2year period. Cut their SW and give them the vouchers.

Why should the 450,000 on the live register be punished for what must be only 15,000-30,000 people!

When you put it this way it makes a lot of sense and I agree with you completely. It's a complicated matter with individual situations differing from person to person. You can't create a system to cater on a person by person basis unfortunately. I think this would be a good first step in an overall of the social welfare system.

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Has it ever occurred to anyone when they see a SW recipient with an Ipad/pod/phone/other piece of overpriced sweatshop produced shyte that perhaps that person might have bought it when they....you know....had a job ?

Of course!...? Where have I said anything to the degree of "I saw a SW recipient with an ipod touch! *shock horror*" I'm saying they shouldn't be able to whilst receiving the dole. Nothing more, nothing less.

ftwwinning wrote: »

So what is little enough? Eat rice/pasta for a week straight or have a decently stocked cupboard?

Little enough is not being able to buy anything but basics for getting by. Like a new phone, or even a night out in town. If you can't afford these things it drives you harder to look for a job.

Why would they not just come up with a type of debit card for social welfare which you use in all shops? If the majority of people want restrictions on what dole claimants can buy, simply block certain premises from accepting these social welfare dole cards, or if someone does use the card, lets say for betting on horses all the time, they should have the card balance deducted every week until that money is restored, or simply cut the dole by the amount they waste on these things.

People will say, how will we judge what is right or what is wrong to buy? Well, the majority will, democracy and all that. I am pretty sure no one wants tax money for dole being spent on horses, alcohol and cigarettes every week. There should definitely be a limit of what "amusement" money they use, it is down the drain. Have them contribute these drain money for training courses, classes etc., something worthwhile. But then again, we do have FAS :rolleyes:

swordofislam wrote: »

Like Judge Brian Curtin spending taxpayers money on child pornography.

And your point? That case was our business to which is why you know his name. I have the opinion that the legal profession hold far too much power in Ireland but that is a different matter altogether.

IngazZagni wrote: »

When you put it this way it makes a lot of sense and I agree with you completely. It's a complicated matter with individual situations differing from person to person. You can't create a system to cater on a person by person basis unfortunately. I think this would be a good first step in an overall of the social welfare system.


Of course!...? Where have I said anything to the degree of "I saw a SW recipient with an ipod touch! *shock horror*" I'm saying they shouldn't be able to whilst receiving the dole. Nothing more, nothing less.



Little enough is not being able to buy anything but basics for getting by. Like a new phone, or even a night out in town. If you can't afford these things it drives you harder to look for a job.

I get what you are saying but I do know people who want for very little other than coffee, bread, porridge and the odd treat such as a tub of olives every couple of months, no joke. People live in tents and are happy. I know that this is far from the norm and nearly everyone, myself included, is struggling, i am always a month behind in rent, but basics are different for everyone, just in terms of food, not talking at all about technology etc

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