Price increases wipe out Pension gains
The recently announced increases in fuel and energy prices, combined with the loss of the Council bin waiver scheme and soaring inflation, will mean that many older people in Mayo will see their pension increase wiped out. I am calling for a national waiver scheme to be established for older people to cover the increasing cost of waste collection and fuel charges.
Friday the 5th of January is a black day for elderly people , in this county, especially those living on their own. The Council has seen fit to walk away from a waiver scheme that was giving a substantial reduction to older people on their bin charges. All a pensioner had to do was to produce a pension book to obtain the waiver.
This facility is now withdrawn. In some rural areas, pensioners living on their own can face a charge of up to 300 Euro for a small bin. After the 5th of this month, these vulnerable people will have no support to help with this cost. This is the real effect of privatisation and the handing over of the county bin service to private operators.
If we combine this extra burden, with the recently announced ESB increases and cost of living increases, it amounts to a wipe-out of the pension gains contained in the Budget. This government has turned giving with one hand and taking with the other, into an art in itself. It sees privatisation of health and other public services, like refuse collection, as the way forward, regardless of the consequences on those who cannot pay.
Labour is committing, as a partner in a new government, to the introduction of a waiver scheme to cover refuse charges for older people and it will also provide substantial assistance to cover the increasing cost of fuel. This will ensure that older people in Mayo are protected from heavy and ever increasing waste and fuel charges.
The recently announced increases in fuel and energy prices, combined with the loss of the Council bin waiver scheme and soaring inflation, will mean that many older people in Mayo will see their pension increase wiped out. I am calling for a national waiver scheme to be established for older people to cover the increasing cost of waste collection and fuel charges.
Friday the 5th of January is a black day for elderly people , in this county, especially those living on their own. The Council has seen fit to walk away from a waiver scheme that was giving a substantial reduction to older people on their bin charges. All a pensioner had to do was to produce a pension book to obtain the waiver.
This facility is now withdrawn. In some rural areas, pensioners living on their own can face a charge of up to 300 Euro for a small bin. After the 5th of this month, these vulnerable people will have no support to help with this cost. This is the real effect of privatisation and the handing over of the county bin service to private operators.
If we combine this extra burden, with the recently announced ESB increases and cost of living increases, it amounts to a wipe-out of the pension gains contained in the Budget. This government has turned giving with one hand and taking with the other, into an art in itself. It sees privatisation of health and other public services, like refuse collection, as the way forward, regardless of the consequences on those who cannot pay.
Labour is committing, as a partner in a new government, to the introduction of a waiver scheme to cover refuse charges for older people and it will also provide substantial assistance to cover the increasing cost of fuel. This will ensure that older people in Mayo are protected from heavy and ever increasing waste and fuel charges.
2 comments:
Zentes yom se nessulti sostrantao kino forniveiro... Querrido xirmas novenostrevi mestrabi restra, fiadoregam rec!!! Masticerch fampor xire fazior. Noisai um tode. Kagorm uma zam um.
Congrats on the blog Harry. Keep up the good work on all the issues - particularly solidarity with the people of Erris, still besieged by Gardaí and ruthless multinationals alike - and good luck in the campaign. Hope to see you at Conference.
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