The Irish League of Credit Unions have today published their annual What’s Left Tracker.
Real disposable income is #decreasing as prices rise and wages and social welfare #benefits decrease.
Almost 100,000 children in Ireland live in consistent poverty
Respect For the Unemployed & Benefit Claimants said; "It’s clear from the survey that the Irish government has failed, We condemn recent cuts to social welfare, theses must be halted. The Irish government should do more to promote decent wages for those in employment. The #Jobsbridge scheme must be scrapped, it displaces paid work by making thousands of workers available to employers for free for 18 months at a time. The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has expressed serious concerns that the JobsPlus supports are tied to low exploitative wages.
The Credit Union report is a stark warning to government. They must insulate the incomes of those on social welfare and those in low paid employment from any cuts in the upcoming budget.”
The survey reveals some startling statistics and again highlights the need for much more to be done to assist those who are struggling with their personal finances.
Headline statistics in the tracker include the following:
– 1,8M are left with €100 or less each month after bills are paid
– 46% of those with a credit card do not know the interest rate charged on their card
– 25% of credit card holders rely on their credit card to make ends meet each month
– 40% have borrowed to pay their household bills in the past 12 months, 10% using moneylenders
The report shows that 1.59 million people are left with €50 (£42) or less at the end of the month once the essential bills have been paid, and that 56 per cent of the adult population believe that the worst is yet to come in terms of financial hardship this year.
Some 41 per cent believe that the introduction of the property tax will have the most significant impact on them.
The areas of the budget that were of particular concern to the respondents were – not being able to pay household bills, dealing with extra taxes, the impact of the budget, the property tax, the increasing cost of utility bills, the European economy and finding a job. 8 in 10 adults fear that 2014 will be a tougher financial year than 2013.
Email: respect_unemployed@ovi.com
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European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland Irish Congress of Trade Unions Dublin Council of Trade Unions
