Family incomes down €7,000 a year since recession
Cash-strapped families have discovered that their incomes have plummeted by almost €600 per month since the recession began – and when water charges are introduced, they can expect to be punished even more.
The average family has been hit across the board with a combination of an increased tax bill and benefits being slashed.
Figures compiled by Galway West TD Noel Grealish make for grim reading as families are bearing the brunt of the recession – the fact that there are predictions of a four per cent growth in the economy next year means little at the moment.
The independent TD said that the Government had been “picking away” at incomes since 2008 to such an extent that those who were lucky to be earning a wage now had their income cut by a whopping €590 every month. That’s more than €7,000 a year.
“Now that Ireland has exited the bailout programme, the Government need to focus their policies and supports on working families who have suffered the most for the last five years.
“While everyone in Ireland has suffered as a result of this recession, it is middle income earners with young families that seemed to bear the brunt of tax hikes and spending cuts.
“In the case of many such families that I meet, they are earning just above the threshold which would enable them to seek social welfare supports and assistance, but they are not earning enough to give them a reasonable standard of living,” Deputy Grealish said.
For more on this story and a breakdown of how families are affected, see this week’s Connacht Tribune