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Communion & Confirmation allowances scrapped! Huzzah!

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  • 11-04-2013 9:15am
    #1
    Dave!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,857 ✭✭✭✭


    Grants for First Communion and Confirmation costs are to be discontinued, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed.

    Up until now families in need were able to apply for funds for clothing costs.

    Last year the department reduced the grant from €242 to €112.

    Now it has confirmed that the allowance has been scrapped entirely this year.

    Instead families in need can apply for an emergency needs payments but these cannot be used to cover religious ceremonies.

    More than €3.4m was paid in Communion and Confirmation costs in 2011 and €1.5m was paid out last year.

    A review of the guidelines on exceptional needs payments was carried out for the department by a working group made up of former Community Welfare Service staff.

    We'll have to hope this government keeps the secularisation stuff going over the next few years, cos the Labour party are getting fooked out in the next election! :D


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Comments

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    #2
    Amirani
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,522 Mod ✭✭✭✭Amirani


    Great news.


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    #3
    eviltwin
    Registered Users Posts: 17,495 ✭✭✭✭eviltwin


    Let's hope the likes of St V de P follow suit.


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    #4
    Animord
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,004 ✭✭✭Animord


    At last.

    I can cope with so many things about religion in a calm and collected manner but for some reason this one is the straw that breaks my personal camel's back. The one that causes me to scream and shout and totally lose control.


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    #5
    hyperborean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 655 ✭✭✭hyperborean


    Dave! wrote: »
    We'll have to hope this government keeps the secularisation stuff going over the next few years, cos the Labour party are getting fooked out in the next election! :D


    Once the labour party are gone it will be back to the old church groveling, FG backbenchers are entrenched in the church and have been fighting every secular change put in front of them.


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    #6
    Rev Hellfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭Rev Hellfire


    About time, hopefully other payments like the Christmas bonus will also follow suit.
    eviltwin wrote: »
    Let's hope the likes of St V de P follow suit.
    Since they're not a state body, I don't see the problem in them wasting their money on this if they want to.

    Oddly enough I suspect the church is probably in favour of this, they have been vocal in the past of this wear your wealth display.

    Though nothing wrong in wearing your wealth mind you, assuming it's your own wealth you're wearing and not everyone elses.


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    #7
    Beruthiel
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 42,362 Mod ✭✭✭✭Beruthiel


    Delighted to hear that.


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    #8
    krudler
    Registered Users Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Ahh heyor, me little Rihanna needs to shyn like a diamund on her big day and Tyson needs new nikes for his, how am I sposed to afford a limo now?! bloody goverment givn all the money to dose forriners


    Really though, good, let them make it in the school uniforms.


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    #9
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,387 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    Attack on religion - No, fancy dresses etc are not part of the religious ceremony. It's a cultural thing, not a religious thing.
    Children will feel left out if others are wearing fancy dresses - Only if they're made to feel left out. Best course of action to have all children make them in their school clothes.
    Attack on the poor - Reduces financial burden on all parents if children make it in their uniforms. Don't need a fancy party either, that's a cultural thing, not a requirement
    Economic sense - That's the reason, despite what the religious will likely claim. It makes economic sense to take away these unnecessary payments.


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    #10
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,848 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    krudler wrote: »
    Ahh heyor, me little Rihanna needs to shyn like a diamund on her big day and Tyson needs new nikes for his, how am I sposed to afford a limo now?! bloody goverment givn all the money to dose forriners
    let's not try to make A&A sound like after hours?


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    #11
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    hyperborean wrote: »
    Once the labour party are gone it will be back to the old church groveling, FG backbenchers are entrenched in the church and have been fighting every secular change put in front of them.
    That might depend if Angela gives them a choice between cutting Communion allowances or TD allowances. ;)

    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    About time, hopefully other payments like the Christmas bonus will also follow suit.
    I've no problem with a Christmas allowance. It's a freakin' expensive time of year if you have kids. And people need something to look forward to.


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    #12
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users Posts: 26,243 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Penn wrote: »
    . . . Economic sense - That's the reason, despite what the religious will likely claim. It makes economic sense to take away these unnecessary payments.
    Money handed out in means-based transfer payments is almost immediately spent again, and in full, and so acts as a stimulus to the economy. That's why dole payments, for example, stimulate the economy more effectively than tax cuts.

    I'm all in favour of ending grants for communion dresses, but it will make most economic sense if the amount saved is put back into other transfer payments to the financially-strapped.


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    #13
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,387 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    Peregrinus wrote: »
    Money handed out in means-based transfer payments is almost immediately spent again, and in full, and so acts as a stimulus to the economy. That's why dole payments, for example, stimulate the economy more effectively than tax cuts.

    I'm all in favour of ending grants for communion dresses, but it will make most economic sense if the amount saved is put back into other transfer payments to the financially-strapped.

    The communion/confirmation allowance doesn't have that large of an effect because it's only during a certain period of the year and money is spent in certain shops.

    I agree, using the money to raise child benefit or something would have a far greater benefit to the economy.


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    #14
    Rev Hellfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭Rev Hellfire


    Dades wrote: »
    I've no problem with a Christmas allowance. It's a freakin' expensive time of year if you have kids. And people need something to look forward to.
    Must say I'm surprised to see you think Christmas should be somehow treated special.

    Its just another day in the year, if people want to blow money on treats for it they should cough up the money themselves just like people have to do for any other day of the week.


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    #15
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    I don't see Christmas a religious holiday - it's a global cultural holiday. And I really do believe that people need something like that to look forward to. Not having an extra payment at Christmas with all that 'mirth and cheer about' would just make it miserable for those unable to save for a few toys for the kids, and the kids themselves.


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    #16
    wench
    Registered Users Posts: 1,636 ✭✭✭wench


    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    About time, hopefully other payments like the Christmas bonus will also follow suit.
    The christmas bonus was one of the first to go - hasn't been paid since 2008


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    #17
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users Posts: 26,243 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Penn wrote: »
    The communion/confirmation allowance doesn't have that large of an effect because it's only during a certain period of the year and money is spent in certain shops.

    I agree, using the money to raise child benefit or something would have a far greater benefit to the economy.
    Well, in the scheme of things, it's a trivial amount of money, in terms of stimulating the economy, and it would be roundings of a cent in the difference it would make to children's allowance payments. But I'd be quite happy to see the same amount spend in other "emergency grants" to people in transient or short-term need.


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    #18
    Rev Hellfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭Rev Hellfire


    wench wrote: »
    The christmas bonus was one of the first to go - hasn't been paid since 2008
    Excellent, I stand corrected.


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    #19
    iDave
    Registered Users Posts: 3,750 ✭✭✭iDave


    krudler wrote: »
    Ahh heyor, me little Rihanna needs to shyn like a diamund on her big day and Tyson needs new nikes for his, how am I sposed to afford a limo now?! bloody goverment givn all the money to dose forriners


    Really though, good, let them make it in the school uniforms.

    u ok hun xxx


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    #20
    Gatling
    Registered Users Posts: 40,291 ✭✭✭✭Gatling


    And actually anybody can still get a payment under the exceptional needs from there CWO they give out the payment for anything from communions-debs dresses and lingerie yes lingerie
    360_F_102352090_ie3kLjDIvgrT1sxVDknWCUh8PxgMYzM7.jpg




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    #21
    SebBerkovich
    Registered Users Posts: 1,624 ✭✭✭SebBerkovich


    this will do untold damage this will do to the Communion and Confirmation Shop economy. Good.


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    #22
    Obliq
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,371 ✭✭✭Obliq


    wench wrote: »
    The christmas bonus was one of the first to go - hasn't been paid since 2008

    Was just going to say just that, as the good Rev's comment had me spitting feathers. My comment wasn't so polite as yours. Well done on sticking to the facts.
    Obliq has managed to stand-down - three cheers!


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    #23
    VinLieger
    Registered Users Posts: 17,797 ✭✭✭✭VinLieger


    Cant wait for liveline today


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    #24
    krudler
    Registered Users Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    iDave wrote: »
    u ok hun xxx

    Don't wanna say on ere :pac:


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    #25
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,403 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Dave! wrote: »
    Communion & Confirmation allowances scrapped!
    Has Quinn tweeted about this unprecedented attack on religion yet?

    And what about Waters on Friday -- I can hear him scrabbling about for his thesaurus already!


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    #26
    iDave
    Registered Users Posts: 3,750 ✭✭✭iDave


    krudler wrote: »
    Don't wanna say on ere :pac:

    snd me PM chick :):) x0x0x0x0x


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    #27
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,387 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    robindch wrote: »
    Has Quinn tweeted about this unprecedented attack on religion yet?

    Not yet. Too busy focusing on abortion stuff.


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    #28
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    This is a fundamental attack on people's right to religious freedom by denying them the ability, not forcibly, but functionally, to celebrate their child's first communion in a dignified manner.



    *cough*, sorry just channeling the Iona centre there.


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    #29
    PopePalpatine
    Registered Users Posts: 11,866 ✭✭✭✭PopePalpatine


    robindch wrote: »
    Has Quinn tweeted about this unprecedented attack on religion yet?

    And what about Waters on Friday -- I can hear him scrabbling about for his thesaurus already!

    Quickmeme won't let me hotlink. :(
    http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3tuj02/
    qm.gif


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    #30
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    iDave wrote: »
    u ok hun xxx
    krudler wrote: »
    Don't wanna say on ere :pac:
    iDave wrote: »
    snd me PM chick :):) x0x0x0x0x
    Take it to Facebook, kids.


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    #31
    krudler
    Registered Users Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    seamus wrote: »
    This is a fundamental attack on people's right to religious freedom by denying them the ability, not forcibly, but functionally, to celebrate their child's first communion in a dignified manner.



    *cough*, sorry just channeling the Iona centre there.

    Did they actually say that?


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