As the harsh reality of this week’s Budget begins to sink in, the Kilkenny Advertiser has been talking to local public representatives and business owners about what it will mean for people locally.
Deputies John Paul Phelan, John McGuinness and Ann Phelan gave their reaction. Minister Phil Hogan, who is currently in Durban at the conference on climate change, issued a statement on the budget on Thursday.
Of the four TDs, three voted with their parties for the Budget, while one – Deputy McGuinness – said he voted for some measures, but against others such as the Household Charge and the cuts to disability benefits.
Sinn Fein Councillor Kathleen Funchion said that Education, Children and the elderly were all targets in this government’s Budget.
“On Sunday night our Taoiseach told us that we were not responsible for the current economic crisis. However this was not the message delivered by his colleague Minister Brendan Howlin on Monday December 5. It was hard to believe that it was a Labour Party Minister that was dishing out the cuts to child benefit, disability allowance, the fuel allowance and cuts to the education budget.
“students in third level now face a hike of 250 euro in their fees, along with cuts in their grant. Child benefit has been cut for the 3rd and subsequent children, along with increased costs for school buses and cuts to the back to school allowance.
“Lone parents allowance has been radically changed with no regard for those families affected and a six-week cut in fuel allowance will mean many will go without heat in their homes.
“This government had alternatives — they could have introduced a wealth tax and introduced a 3rd rate of tax on incomes over €100,000 instead they chose to target the vulnerable in our communities.
