Dear Editor,
There is a widespread feeling that nobody will be spared the axe due to fall on the nation within a few days.
We all have to be ready to make sacrifices. Cutbacks are unavoidable in what is a national economic emergency of frightening proportions.
But surely even in the darkest hour there has to some glimmer of light and hope, and in particular for a band of heroic people who have already made huge sacrifices and contributed massively to the country’s economic wellbeing.
I refer to the 161,000 carers, who in addition to providing an essential life enhancing and in many instances literally life saving service to people in need of care, also save the exchequer about E2.5 billion per year by their dedication to caring for loved ones.
The allowance carers receive is just €16 more than Job Seeker’s payment, and with this they must pay for food, heat, electricity, and medical services. Many of them endure and accept a much lower than average standard of living as a result of the sacrifice they make.
Is the government insensitive and cruel enough to punish these people? Can fiscal rectitude even in the worst of times not be tempered with compassion?
Carers are not only completely innocent of the reckless monetary policies, government mismanagement and bungling, and downright financial greed and corruption in the banking sector that exacerbate Ireland’s version of the world recession…They are the backbone of our social economy.
They were among the ones who acted responsibly within the restraints of a very tight household budget regime…while so many others were living it up and thriving in the good times.
And are they, of all people, to be punished now? That is surely unthinkable.
Yours,
John Fitzgerald
Callan
