SW payments for commuions-WHY

weiland79 · 02-02-2012 02:17PM

Well i can't wait for the Joe Show today!

planetX · 02-02-2012 02:23PM

I was eligible for this payment a few years ago, but no way could I go through the humiliation of looking for it - even then I thought it was the most ridiculous waste of money. My son didn't want to wear a nerdy suit anyway, he wore school pants and a shirt from Penneys - I believe it cost 4 euros. Add to that the sweets and food for his party at home afterwards, I spent no more than 30. He took in about 400:D
I'm glad to see this stopped, it's only those that had the nerve to go looking for it that got it - the rest of us budgeted:mad:

gcgirl · 02-02-2012 02:25PM

The working poor are intitled to this
Personally I think communion and confirmation should be done outside school. Maybe Sunday school kind of the setting and then apart from having people who are practicing Catholics doing it and more than likely they're be a drop off in people claiming for it because we all now hardly any one goes to church just like me the atheist

El Weirdo · 02-02-2012 02:36PM

slarkin123 wrote: »

It cost me about a grand to clothe everyone but i paid for it myself.

Did you pay for the whole class!?

slarkin123 · 02-02-2012 02:38PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

slarkin123 wrote: »

It cost me about a grand to clothe everyone but i paid for it myself.

Did you pay for the whole class!?

No. My Hubby, myself, daughter and 2 sons

Crazy Horse 6 · 02-02-2012 02:39PM

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

Chantelle is entitled to a nice Communion day too.

I don't get it, who's Chantelle?

Naomi00 · 02-02-2012 02:41PM

AH is more like Liveline...

Captain_Generic · 02-02-2012 02:42PM

Crazy Horse 6 wrote: »

I don't get it, who's Chantelle?

Jacinteeeee's step-daughter

02-02-2012 02:43PM

Look at this poor thread compared to the pole on the dole indo story.

If the irish examiner really want to compete with the independent they need to learn how to write compelling pieces.

They should have titled this article something like
Social welfare pays for limos for communions SCANDAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They then could have ran a piece by some made up recipient of the dole who was paying for a limo for her childs communion from this payment, maybe throw in a picture of a garish strecth limo to top off the article.

suicide_circus · 02-02-2012 02:54PM

slarkin123 wrote: »

I put my kids into an Irish catholic school. It was the Irish part that was important to me. My daughter made her communion 2 years ago and the school gave out letters automatically to claim that benefit. Myself and another parent were the only ones in the class to hand it back saying we didn't want a grant. I don't believe in throwing a huge party for the event. Instead we visited 4 relatives (only because it was expected) then we brought the kids to a nice hotel for dinner. It cost me about a grand to clothe everyone but i paid for it myself. If it were up to me the kids would make it in their school uniforms. I've got another communion this year and will be doing it exactly the same way.

slarkin123 wrote: »

No. My Hubby, myself, daughter and 2 sons

So you sent your children to an Irish catholic school, but only for the Irish element but then proceed to spend a grand on new clothes plus dinner in a swanky hotel for a communion...seems a bit ridiculous. Your child didnt have to do communion and you certainly didnt have to spend any money on it

slarkin123 · 02-02-2012 03:07PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

slarkin123 wrote: »

I put my kids into an Irish catholic school. It was the Irish part that was important to me. My daughter made her communion 2 years ago and the school gave out letters automatically to claim that benefit. Myself and another parent were the only ones in the class to hand it back saying we didn't want a grant. I don't believe in throwing a huge party for the event. Instead we visited 4 relatives (only because it was expected) then we brought the kids to a nice hotel for dinner. It cost me about a grand to clothe everyone but i paid for it myself. If it were up to me the kids would make it in their school uniforms. I've got another communion this year and will be doing it exactly the same way.

slarkin123 wrote: »

No. My Hubby, myself, daughter and 2 sons

So you sent your children to an Irish catholic school, but only for the Irish element but then proceed to spend a grand on new clothes plus dinner in a swanky hotel for a communion...seems a bit ridiculous. Your child didnt have to do communion and you certainly didnt have to spend any money on it

We did discuss not letting her make it the poor child got into snap awful state. She was picked on in school and felt like she was losing her friends. I couldn't bare to see my child so depressed and i caved. We weren't out of pocket cause it was money i was saving for the communion anyway.

sensibleken · 02-02-2012 03:16PM

ejmaztec wrote: »

There are probably more kids making communion than there are having holidays, so it's comparatively easy not to feel embarrassed about not having a holiday.

It's a different thing altogether to be under the spotlight on communion day, especially with the whole class in attendance.

I blame the greedy bastards who have turned a simple affair into a money-spinner for some local kids clothing shops, and whoever else gets a cut of the proceedings. Without these feckers on the scene, a communion day wouldn't cost an arm and a leg and be treated like a royal wedding.

Just to point out if someone doesnt make their communion it is unlikely they will be the only ones. The religious makeup in schools these days is much more diverse that it was when i was a kid. Plenty of Muslim, hindu, protestants about

I Heart Internet · 02-02-2012 03:17PM

Few things spring to mind:

1) Parish Priests and the church in general are blue in the face from telling people NOT to spend ridiculous sums on communion and confirmation outfits. It's a waste of money, a distraction from the significance of the sacraments in question and a source of hardship or embarressment for those who can't afford or can barely afford it.

2) It must be hard for SW officers to determine a real hardship case - a case that warrents an exceptional needs payment. These payments shouldn't be given for such events (are they given for birthday parties, graduations???). What if parents spend the food budget for the month on a dress costing €400 but claim they need an exceptional needs payment then to plug the gap in their food gap? Yes, they're idiots, but should they get the money??

3) For what it's worth. I think that parishes should insist that communions and confirmations are made in their school uniform, or, at a push, a plain white robe. Still though, this has been tried elsewhere and sure most parents buy them "something nice to go under it" or "to wear for the rest of the day".

I really value communion and confirmations and woud want them for my own kids some day. The dress-up, fancy dinner, money side of it turns me right off tbh. Sooner that bull**** ends the better.

token101 · 02-02-2012 03:18PM

Aside from the whole ridiculousness of the payment, even with this money people probably still struggled to keep up with the neighbours' kids. The pressure and embarrassment was crazy in my day and that was before the Celtic Tiger. It must be a million times worse now. Kids going around collecting money from broke relatives and neighbours, 100's of euro sometimes, for playstation games and DVDs.

Why don't schools take the initiative here and have these ceremonies on a weekday night? One hour, you're in and out in the uniform. If you don't want to turn up, that's your perogative as a parent. Hopefully it puts all this **** to bed and it goes back to what it was originally intended as: a boring ceremony where relatives turn up to a pretence of indoctrinating kids into a corrupt and morally bankrupt institution.

gcgirl · 02-02-2012 03:23PM

I did not let my daughter make her communion, I told the principle my feelings towards it and as she is unfortunately baptised (I was bulled into it by several people) she could of made it but as I don't really see the point of being a hypocrite I had my mum and my cousin treating to bring her her themselves to make it and them two don't even attend church and I had to put my foot down, so any way she did not make it but she did not feel out of place or get picked on, I'm really lucky she has had some great teachers, the school used to be run by nuns I was sent there hated it and now her 2 younger siblings go to the educate together, I could have moved her only her friends are where she is.

Capt'n Midnight · 02-02-2012 03:24PM

up for anything wrote: »

Just wanted to point out that there are some schools that don't have a school uniform.

Not many.

and besides they could wear a standard white robe over their normal clothes on the day.

Capt'n Midnight · 02-02-2012 03:24PM

Let's start a campaign to have them wear sackcloth and ashes after their first confession.

gcgirl · 02-02-2012 03:25PM

token101 wrote: »

Aside from the whole ridiculousness of the payment, even with this money people probably still struggled to keep up with the neighbours' kids. The pressure and embarrassment was crazy in my day and that was before the Celtic Tiger. It must be a million times worse now. Kids going around collecting money from broke relatives and neighbours, 100's of euro sometimes, for playstation games and DVDs.

Why don't schools take the initiative here and have these ceremonies on a weekday night? One hour, you're in and out in the uniform. If you don't want to turn up, that's your perogative as a parent. Hopefully it puts all this **** to bed and it goes back to what it was originally intended as: a boring ceremony where relatives turn up to a pretence of indoctrinating kids into a corrupt and morally bankrupt institution.

We may not see eye to eye on things but your right

fishy fishy · 02-02-2012 03:26PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Let's start a campaign to have them wear sackcloth and ashes after their first confession.

lovely little communion dresses in debenhams for 56 Euro - very girly, and perfect for ONE DAY. no excuses anymore.

ejmaztec · 02-02-2012 03:26PM

sensibleken wrote: »

Just to point out if someone doesnt make their communion it is unlikely they will be the only ones. The religious makeup in schools these days is much more diverse that it was when i was a kid. Plenty of Muslim, hindu, protestants about

The ethnic mix isn't as prevalent out in the sticks, and kids being kids, know exactly who's supposed to be there on the day, especially the uppity little sh1ts.

I Heart Internet · 02-02-2012 03:30PM

token101 wrote: »

Why don't schools take the initiative here and have these ceremonies on a weekday night? One hour, you're in and out in the uniform. If you don't want to turn up, that's your perogative as a parent.

While i think the fashion, money, limos, tiaras and lavish dinners are a mistake and complete bull****, I think it's very important to recognise the significance of the occasion.....if you believe what it says on the tin. If a child is being confirmed our making their first holy communion I think it is a big deal and of course your parents would ideally be there.

token101 wrote: »

a boring ceremony where relatives turn up to a pretence of indoctrinating kids into a corrupt and morally bankrupt institution.

If that's what someone makes of it then why on earth would someone take part in it. That would be pathetic.

token101 · 02-02-2012 03:31PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Let's start a campaign to have them wear sackcloth and ashes after their first confession.

Priests would never go for that. They're very well unionised.

token101 · 02-02-2012 03:40PM

I Heart Internet wrote: »

While i think the fashion, money, limos, tiaras and lavish dinners are a mistake and complete bull****, I think it's very important to recognise the significance of the occasion.....if you believe what it says on the tin. If a child is being confirmed our making their first holy communion I think it is a big deal and of course your parents would ideally be there.

If that's what someone makes of it then why on earth would someone take part in it. That would be pathetic.

I don't ever remember being given a choice in the matter. It's like any party, most people turn up just to be social and not be the odd one out. Church attendance figures bare that out. I would guess that upwards of 50% of people in Ireland in 2012 couldn't care less about religion because we live an educated society. Religion is a sideshow in most universities. I'd much rather some famliy gets a grant for getting their kids through college heading for graduation than this carnival rubbish.

Capt'n Midnight · 02-02-2012 03:41PM

DB21 wrote: »

SW AND religion bashing?!?! This is like a religious holiday in Winter for After Hours!

OK then seeing as how it's AH

For confirmations they shouldn't be allowed wear white unless they are still virgins :pac:

John Doe1 · 02-02-2012 03:41PM

but will i get money for my satanic initiation ceremony, noooo:mad:

token101 · 02-02-2012 03:48PM

John Doe1 wrote: »

but will i get money for my satanic initiation ceremony, noooo:mad:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0112/breaking49.html

Since we live in an EU superstate where laws are transferrable when the mood suits, I DEMAND my Free Rapids Allowance. It's impeding me practicing my faith.

Monife · 02-02-2012 04:09PM

Nearly fell of my chair when I read this. What planet is this country on? Giving payments out for communions. That is not an essential nor exceptional need. Religion is a choice, kids are not forced to do their communion (I wasn't). Also, when the child is born and if the parents are religious or think that they might want their child to do their communion, surely they could save €1 a week! That would get you over €400 by the time communion came around.

ronjo · 02-02-2012 04:15PM

I live abroad and my sister has me demented reminding me when my nephews communion is and wondering are flights booked.
Maybe I should get her to claim the money to pay for flights for me and the family...

ejmaztec · 02-02-2012 04:15PM

John Doe1 wrote: »

but will i get money for my satanic initiation ceremony, noooo:mad:

No, but you might get the use of a wizard's sleeve when you're playing hunt the sausage in the woods with the local coven.

Helix · 02-02-2012 04:16PM

ejmaztec wrote: »

So that impoverished kids don't have to suffer the embarassment of looking like dicks on communion day.

making their communion isnt something that's essential, its something that's optional

SW payments for commuions-WHY

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