Galway families are facing into a very difficult start to 2018, particularly in the areas of rent and childcare, as the Budget’s measure come into effect, the Green Party’s Galway West candidate has warned.
According to a recent report by the ESRI, families were the worst affected by the Budget, which comes into effect this week, with tax changes not matching income levels.
Pauline O’Reilly, the Green’s Galway West candidate, a qualified solicitor, and chair of the Galway Steiner National School, has also pointed out that Galway parents are also being affected by rent increases, a failure to address childcare issues, and a reduction in the number of houses available, with figures showing a 90 per cent reduction in rental properties compared with 2009.
“Families are simply moving out of the city as they cannot afford to either rent or buy here,” she says. “We are at crisis point on a number of fronts. I have had a number of local constituents tell me they fear bringing grievances to landlords in case their rent is increased, forcing them to move away from their children’s school. Families are also struggling to get a foot in home ownership, with lending institutions unwilling to give mortgages. This is down to bad Government policies and a lack of local housing.”
