Local Senator and Fine Gael’s spokesperson for Social and Family Affairs, Nicky McFadden, has condemned the Budget as targeting the most vulnerable in Irish society.
“To inspire the public and consumer confidence, the Finance Minister should have shown leadership by keeping his promises in relation to essential capital expenditure and helping those who are most vulnerable and the less well off,” said the Fine Gael Senator.
“Indeed it appears that as we digest the provisions of Budget ‘09, the full extent of its viciousness is revealed.
“The removal of the medical card for over 70s is a very serious and retrograde step,” she continued.
“Only 10 per cent of people in this country over 70 will now be entitled to a full medical card.
“The Government introduced this policy and now with one fell swoop it has been removed from those who really need it the most”.
“The increase in the pupil-teacher ratio should also have been untouchable; however, we are now officially moving to a situation whereby the ratio is 28 to 1- the largest pupil-teacher ratio in the EU.
“The cruellest part of this is that it will affect the chances of our children’s learning and their life chances in an increasingly competitive world and consequently there will be no new jobs for 400 new teachers.
“The Minister has chosen to step back from a progressive policy towards young people aged 18 and over.
“The increase in the third level registration fees and the abolition of children’s allowance after the age of 18 will make it very difficult for young people from working class backgrounds to obtain third level qualifications.
“The one per cent Lenihan Levy on incomes under €100,000, which includes those on minimum wage, is a scandal and is, along with the abolition of the universal medical card for those over 70, the harshest aspect of this Budget by far.
“In reality what this Budget means is that the spending power of families will be down, on average, by €2,500 per annum.
“This will have a serious impact and knock-on effect for small businesses the length and breadth of the country and that’s before the National Spatial strategy, the gateway towns and the innovation fund, all of which have been scrapped, have been discussed.
“This Budget has exposed a misguided short-sightedness by the Government. The cuts that have been made will not serve the interests of this country in the long run”.
