The Frontline Blog

I am lucky to have worked all my life I think Mr Walsh is talking rubbish he doesnt live on the same planet as the rest of us what does know about somebody on social welfare with his wealth

Posted by Helen O Connor on February 15, 2010 at 09:46 PM GMT #

Explain to me how I can have a full time staff with an additional part time job, move 60 miles away to move closer to his girlfriend and get un-employment with in the first 2 weeks of his resignation? and the possibility of rental assistance? Something is very wrong with our system.

Posted by Virginia Forbes on February 15, 2010 at 09:48 PM GMT #

i was unemployed since April, and i decided to start up my own little business i have taken 3 other me of the dole and given them unemployment paid their taxes levys etc, in the mean time i have applied for a c2 to help with my business, and all i keep getting back is obticals in my way, it is unlikely by the way they are going that i will get a c2 which would in time put the four of us back on the dole, Does this make sence.

Posted by paul on February 15, 2010 at 09:50 PM GMT #

I have been in the bar and resturant bussiness for the last 8 years and have only 1 student come in looking for a job within the last year , since its easier to get on the dole in our town.

Posted by Ian Forbes on February 15, 2010 at 09:51 PM GMT #

The border town referred to is in Cavan The Social Welfare Office in it covers a large rural hinterland as well as the town/ Mr Walsh is using information outr of context/ Lies damned lies and statistics

Posted by 127.0.0.1 on February 15, 2010 at 09:53 PM GMT #

could the accountant in the audience please tell me how someone gets 1200 rent allowance when 94 euro per week is maximum rate? also having being made redundant in the past 18 months with a spouse and 3 children i received 436 euro per week , a far cry from the 40K quoted . Please realise the vast majority want to work and would if we could , as always there are a percentage of people playing the system , but please highlight the employers exploiting the current situation by offering a basically subsistance wage and making it almost impossible for people to consider these positions , Thanking you Joe

Posted by Joe O F on February 15, 2010 at 09:56 PM GMT #

what's the point in standing back admiring other countries schemes. GET BUILDING ONE OF OUR OWN !!!

Posted by paul on February 15, 2010 at 10:10 PM GMT #

Please! the figure 0f 35000 might be applicable in some cases but please remeber not everyone is in receipt of rent allowance in particular , what about an unemployed couple with a mortgage payment to meet >>?? etc

Posted by Joe O F on February 15, 2010 at 10:14 PM GMT #

that donegal hotelier is typical of the prejudice view i have encountered up here. i live in donegal.

Posted by paul on February 15, 2010 at 10:21 PM GMT #

Please! the figure 0f 35000 might be applicable in some cases but please remeber not everyone is in receipt of rent allowance in particular , what about an unemployed couple with a mortgage payment to meet >>?? etc

Posted by Joe O F on February 15, 2010 at 10:22 PM GMT #

what does the panel think we should do with the unemployable and should career criminals also be punished by the social welfare

Posted by Eamonn on February 15, 2010 at 10:37 PM GMT #

I am a 25 year old female who has been working in the same job for 9 years. I have worked my way up over the years and am now earing approx 500 per week and am managing to pay rent for 800 per month and save 800 a month towards my mortgage. Hard work but I'm proud of myself. It is good for my self esteem and it's the way I've been reared. I claim nothing as I don't feel I need it. Yet I am sickened to my core to see all the people I went to school with choosing to be on welfare as it is ''handier'' than working. Between the €196 a week, rent allowance, single mothers allowance to which I hasten to add are not single mothers and every other thing these people fleece from my hard earned cash, they are now better off than me. I personally know of at least 30 people claiming benefits that they are not entitled to and they have no shame because the governement encourange and endorse this dispicable behaviour. I want to buy a home here and rear my children here where I grew up but I feel I will have to emigrate and bring them up in a society that promotes better values. This is not fair. Lone parents are widow(er)s. I know this because my mother is one! It takes two to make a child. If the other parent is alive then they should be paying for their child not me!!! When will the people in charge wake up and fix this? It cannot continue.

Posted by Clare on February 15, 2010 at 10:39 PM GMT #

Pat is the panic about medical cards not created by the cost of visiting the Doctor. As is the problem of going to a Dentist and a lot of the other medical professions. The cost of all these things in Ireland is much more than it is in other EU countries. Should the cost of visiting Doctors, Dentists ect be capped by the government. Prices in Ireland are too high for the average householder the cost of a haircut in my local town is €50.00 people just cannot afford this any more.

Posted by Alice Murray on February 15, 2010 at 10:44 PM GMT #

I have been glued to your programme with interest.not one person has mentioned children with special needs who I feel are forgotton!I am an older seperated mum with a special needs child working full time and have done all of my life with the cut backs,The last 6 mts I have been hanging on by a thread finding it so very difficult with just day to day living wondering what can I do?.

Posted by katie on February 15, 2010 at 11:08 PM GMT #

As both the panel and the general studio audience correctly suggested the existing Social Welfare System is not fit for purpose. An attempt promted by Pat Kenny was undertaken by your panel to offer some weak and washy solutions. This element of the show should have been left out as it was totally meaningless in relation to the scale of the problem. I therefore make the following observations: 1. With unemployment currently at 13.5% and likely to reach 14% by year end the key issue and responsibility of Government is to continue to provide those unfortunate unemployed individuals and those most requiring assistance with the full force of the welfare system. 2. If as we agree the system is not fit for purpose then consider a radical overhaul in the intervening period between now and when unemployment levels are at much more acceptable levels. By my calculations, this should give Government about 5 years or more to complete the research task. 3. When people talk about jobs and our failure by some people not to take these jobs because of potential loss and or a reduction in Social Welfare, we should remind ourselves that there are no jobs of any meaningfull numbers out there at this time or are likely to be out there in the foreseeable future. These are the hard facts of the matter.

Posted by Walter Hill on February 15, 2010 at 11:43 PM GMT #

I was disappointed that the selfemployed never got a say on your show I would love to be let go with any redundancy and the dole. Please give a mention to the job creators who stop paying themselves so they could pay there staff.

Posted by Eamon Keenan on February 19, 2010 at 02:56 PM GMT #

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