Budget 2012 - How Has It Affected You?

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis

Monday December 05, 2011 19:46

by Wannabe Postgrad

My story...tell us yours

The piece below describes how Budget 2012 has hit me. I hope that you will share your own reactions to the budget and how it will impact upon you. Let's hear the human stories behind the headlines

Budget 2012 has effectively put an end to my ambitions of continuing my education.

I recently graduated from university with a 1st class honours degree that is next to useless in the current jobs climate. I had hoped to use this year either in paid work or, more realistically, in a internship in a field related to my degree. I'm doing neither, despite making many applications. I had one, unsuccessful, interview for an internship where I learned that most of the applicants had postgraduate qualifications.

I had planned on doing a masters degree next year and, maybe even a Phd afterwards, depending on how the masters went. I would at least be in a better position to get work with a masters than with my BA.

Today's budget has changed all of that. If I'm lucky, I might get some help towards fees. However, because of the system, my parents will be means tested as well as myself because I was living with them before I commenced my degree. I'm 30 years old and my parents can certainly not afford to fund my education...I did my BA with the help of the Back to Education Allowance. Because of the ridiculously low income threshold though, I may be considered ineligible for the fees grant. Even with it though, I still need to find the money to pay rent and maintenance for myself throughout my studies.

Basically I'm screwed. No work, no more education and nor am I in a position to emigrate. My rent supplement is also being cut.

I'm not here to ask for sympathy, but to highlight what this budget has done to me. I'm sure that many of you reading will have been hit in different ways, and more of you will be hit further tomorrow.

I'm suggesting that you post up here and share how the Budget is hitting you and your families, and highlight the realities behind the spin and statistics.

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Comments (8 of 8)

by So Sad

Mon Dec 05, 2011 21:30

At 30 and you're still looking for more education, how much do you want this bankrupt state to fund your studies, until you qualify for the non contributory old age pension at this rate. Go try some menial work like burger king or a bar.

Enough's Enough!!

by Pól Ó Cionsalaígh

Tue Dec 06, 2011 01:04

An Chúlog, Báile Átha Cliath 17

Tax hikes today hitting us the ordinary people yet the rich get away scot free yet again :-( :-( Don't how much more I can take!! How much more can we take?
VAT up 2% to 23%, Job cuts, Child benefit & dole cut Austerity isn't working - PUT PEOPLE BEFORE BANKS PROTEST ON BUDGET DAY TODAY 6pm @ An Dáil Éireann,, Kildare Street, Báile Átha Cliath 2

It's gone

by Des - None

Tue Dec 06, 2011 06:36

I know how u feel, but the cash has been allocated to financial speculators and some new special advisers. As the previous comment has indicated, a substantial number of people subscribe to the thatcherite view, there is no society, no solidarity, just a collection of individuals. Basically, look after oneself and screw everybody else. Long live socialism, James Connolly must be turning in his grave!!!!!!!!!!!

So Sad

Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:13

Been there, done that regarding the so called menial jobs. The retail outlets I worked in prior to doing a degree are now shut, so that's an unrealistic option.
Even unpaid internships are few and far between.
Lovely attitude there, So Sad, you clearly don't see the economic benefits of education as opposed to letting people rot on the dole. I take it Budget 2012 has been good for you so far then? I wouldn't get too comfortable though, round 2 is bound to deliver a few shocks.

"fuck the poor" say michael noonan and FG andtheir "labour" lackeys

by Unemployed - (scapegoats)

Tue Dec 06, 2011 21:25

single mother on social welfare receiving rent allowance

down >1000 euro per annum

huge deal made about social charge (only 100 per year) meanwhile sleight of hand takes a whole pile off those getting rent allowance. (>500 per annum)

basically, a sneaky "protect the rich and fuck the poor" budget

Nothing here to stimulate local economy and make any jobs. in fact vat will help kill local economy even more.
meanwhile, FAS on a huge drive to push people into "fantasy" jobs that don't actually exist. Its called harassment.

the only jobs they are creating is their own as attack dogs for the dept of social welfare.

when they are helping you "get a job" (i.e. one of the fantasy jobs I mentioned), you always notice a threat at the end of the letter that if you don't go along with the charade then they will inform social welfare who will cut off the money you need to eat.

No mention of the fact that when there was work available, people got jobs and very few chose to stay on social welfare. People want to work.

But here's the thing FAS / FG / well paid DFA civil servants: there needs to be actual jobs there for them to go to.

FAS could be largely replaced by a decent webserver by a dozen good degree / PHD students currently on the dole. THAT would create a few proper jobs, trim a lot of qwango paper pushing FAS waste and save the "taxpayers" a whole bunch of money.

This right wing neo con government need to go. They don't work for us or the local economy of small businesses. They serve big business who employ relatively few people and just use our country as a tax haven. And they serve foreign banksters and gamblers. These people reward those who facilitate their agenda.

Witness GDP vs GNP for proof
and google the "double Irish" (ironically used extensively by google!!)
and ask yourself why they remove limits on supermarket sizes recently
and why even 1% on corporation tax was not on.
or why a maximum wage of 100,000 for civil servants was such a no no.
I won't even mention the word "bailout".

this is what noonan thinks of the poor....

by bend over

Wed Dec 07, 2011 00:18

I did it because I could and you poor people are easy targets, apathetic, disorganised and don't vote.
fuck you all

by Sean

Wed Dec 07, 2011 11:05

I'm 23. I've been unemployed for a year and a half now. I'm desperate to go to University. I don't qualify for any grants because when I finished school at 18 I attended University for a year but left.

I had, probably wishfully, been hoping I would find a way to raise the money for fees myself, I don't know how. It was already a daunting task, but the extra 250 on top of the 2000 registration fee will just make it impossible.

As it is, after rent and bills, I'm getting by on about 15-20 euro a week, living off ceral and toast. I can't afford to emigrate either. I'm stuck in limbo really, no serious prospect of a job, no prospect of getting back in to education, no prospect of emigration. This budget did nothing to relieve or offer any prospect of change to this situation, just made it worse really

ces schemes

by rocko - none

Wed Dec 14, 2011 15:43

After 2 years of trying to get on a ces scheme iv succeeded,but am now told it will only last for a year and will be taxible and i may lose my disability benifit or have it cut,whats the point,im looking for a help up off the deck,not to be screwed further into the ground,30 years of paying tax in this country and nothing to show for it,this regime will push us so far back that we may never recover ,shame on you Noonan,you are a disgrace to our proud city of limerick,we voted for change and all we got was more of the same.

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Budget 2012 - How Has It Affected You?

Comments (8 of 8)