Budget ‘09 fallout continues
County Council budget slashed by €1.75m
Some dramatic cutbacks are being sought by Limerick County Council after it emerged that there will be a €1.75 million cut in their budget next year.
The chairman of the Council is quoted in the Limerick Leader that the cuts are the equivelent to 50 full time jobs.
All councils are being asked to cut by half the amount of money they spend on consultants in all areas except infrastructure and housing, the article states.
Education cuts motion defeated
A Labour Party motion against education cuts announced following the budget has been defeated in the Dail this afternoon. The motion was defeated by 80 votes to 74.
In a statement prior to the motion, Limerick Labour front-bencher, Jan O’Sullivan stated “The cuts are savage in that they don’t spare any children. Larger classes will have the greatest effect on those who find it hardest to learn. On top of that, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act is put on hold, book, library and equipment grants are cut for disadvantaged children and, those who have benefited least from Education, traveller children, are losing their capitation grants.”
In a meeting with Secondary School Teachers union, the ASTI, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe stated that there would be no going back on planned cuts.
13,000 people turned out last night to protest against the cuts outside Government Buildings in Dublin ahead of this afternoon’s vote.
Departure tax concerns for Shannon
Concerns continue to mount for the future of Shannon following the announcement that flights longer than 300 km are to be hit with a €10 departure levy.
While Labour’s Jan O’Sullivan has called for this levy to be added to the growing list of roll backs by the Government on the budget, and is urging the Competition Authority to investigate the advantage this levy gives to Dublin Airport, Sinn Fein local election candidate Maurice Quinlivan has railed against Fianna Fail for Shannon’s current predicament, stating that the Government allowed the Shannon-Heathrow link to be lost, leaving Shannon now dependent on Ryanair.
He has express concern at how Shannon is now at the mercy of Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair.
It is claimed that Shannon has lost 60,000 passengers to Cork as a result of the loss of the Heathrow link
Disability Allowance cut backs reversed
It was announced today by Social Welfare minister Mary Hannifin that cuts to the Disability Allowance are not going to take place as announced in the budget.
It was announced previously that the elegibility age for the allowance would be increased from 16 to 18. This now will not take place.
Builder Bailout to be investigated by EU
A scheme announced in the Budget which would benefit developers with unsold properties is to be investigated by the EU commission following an online campaign.
Developers would have benefited from the “Home Choice Loans” scheme to the tune of €1.65 billion, although some believe this could rise to as much as €6b. More details can be found here.