gnf_ireland
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*I am not sure if this is the right forum to post this, so mods please feel free to move it if you think there is a better one*
With pre-budget submissions coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, I am wondering who is speaking on behalf of the squeezed middle? Those on around the 55k mark (as defined by the Institute of Taxation), and pay more tax than Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA or Spain, paying 49.5% of their income in taxes & levies. They take home around 6400 a month between them.
[broken link removed]
Those who can barely afford the average 3 bed semi house in Dublin (404k -10% deposit =3.3 times a couple earning 55k each salary), paying around 1800 euro a month in mortgage repayments - among the highest in Europe.
They do not qualify for the Affordable Childcare Scheme, so pay around 1000 a month for each child in creche. Despite not being eligible for the subsidy, they still have to pay the creche increases that appear to have coincided with the scheme.
If they are out of the creche system, they are may be availing of 'free education' but probably need some sort of after school care for the kids. All costs money and little to no support there for them.
If they are lucky, they put in 5% of their salary into a pension fund, matched by their employer, providing them with 'eye watering' security in their old age. They look at the ongoing (small) increases in the state pension, wondering will there be such a thing by the time they reach that age.
Those in the 'squeezed middle' wonder how they have ended up in this situation. They try to play by the rules as best they can and get on with life, but feel they have nothing to show for the hard slog.
So I am wondering is there any lobby group or political movement speaking on behalf of those who help keep the system ticking over? Who should I look out for over the next few weeks to hear their ideas/proposals?
There appears to be no shortage of those willing to speak on behalf of the 'non-working class' and those on lower incomes. The elitist group will always have some voice in government.
Leo says he wants to lead a government for those who "get up early in the morning", but I don't believe Fine Gael represents this demographic.... so who does?
With pre-budget submissions coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, I am wondering who is speaking on behalf of the squeezed middle? Those on around the 55k mark (as defined by the Institute of Taxation), and pay more tax than Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA or Spain, paying 49.5% of their income in taxes & levies. They take home around 6400 a month between them.
[broken link removed]
Those who can barely afford the average 3 bed semi house in Dublin (404k -10% deposit =3.3 times a couple earning 55k each salary), paying around 1800 euro a month in mortgage repayments - among the highest in Europe.
They do not qualify for the Affordable Childcare Scheme, so pay around 1000 a month for each child in creche. Despite not being eligible for the subsidy, they still have to pay the creche increases that appear to have coincided with the scheme.
If they are out of the creche system, they are may be availing of 'free education' but probably need some sort of after school care for the kids. All costs money and little to no support there for them.
If they are lucky, they put in 5% of their salary into a pension fund, matched by their employer, providing them with 'eye watering' security in their old age. They look at the ongoing (small) increases in the state pension, wondering will there be such a thing by the time they reach that age.
Those in the 'squeezed middle' wonder how they have ended up in this situation. They try to play by the rules as best they can and get on with life, but feel they have nothing to show for the hard slog.
So I am wondering is there any lobby group or political movement speaking on behalf of those who help keep the system ticking over? Who should I look out for over the next few weeks to hear their ideas/proposals?
There appears to be no shortage of those willing to speak on behalf of the 'non-working class' and those on lower incomes. The elitist group will always have some voice in government.
Leo says he wants to lead a government for those who "get up early in the morning", but I don't believe Fine Gael represents this demographic.... so who does?