Public Sector Cost-Cutting

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

But the point is that the social is a joke. Look at the border counties. Even one place (in Monaghan?) had a population of 800 but a signing on figure of 1400. Sure that's crazy stuff and proves the point that the social welfare is far too much.

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How does the number of fraudulent dole claims in Monaghan "prove" that social wefare is "far too much"?

Prepacked sandwiches are my cost of living indicator.

When prepacked sandwiches are still selling for €3-4 in most shops, there's something wrong.

(I know it's a luxury. So are pints, shorts, sweeties, Coke, etc. All still bizarrely overpriced. The collars don't match the cuffs.)

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Originally Posted by osarusan

How does the number of fraudulent dole claims in Monaghan "prove" that social wefare is "far too much"?

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Ah please..........be reasonable. eek:

Anyway I have to say the government were totally wrong on cutting the dole for the under 22/24, no matter what you think of the system that seems unfair. Coming out of college with student loans and no job prospects.

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

Anyway I have to say the government were totally wrong on cutting the dole for the under 22/24, no matter what you think of the system that seems unfair. Coming out of college with student loans and no job prospects.

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Practically forcing them to emigrate, and therefore cutting the social welfare bill and jobless rates. Huzzah! Job done

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Practically forcing them to emigrate, and therefore cutting the social welfare bill and jobless rates. Huzzah! Job done

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Wasn't that an old FF policy back in the dark days of the 80's as well - so they have form here

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Practically forcing them to emigrate, and therefore cutting the social welfare bill and jobless rates. Huzzah! Job done

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or getting them to compete with Mr & Mrs eastern Europe for the job going in Spar, supermacs etc. One way or the other there is only so much work to go around so if we wnat to stay in employment here in the short term we will have to roll up ourseleves. Some will loose out and forced to look further a field, I think this is going to make us all a litlle bit meaner and leaner.

Overall I'm in favour of the cuts, though would have left some areas of the social alone.
Personally speaking, I am slightly better off after the budget, VAT to come down, mortgage relief extended, tax nottouched and I feel guilty as a result. Hopefully i'll still be gainfully employed next year and i have no doubt it will be my turn to pay up!

What does it mean anyway? Anybody notice any difference to the delivery of services?

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Originally Posted by Fr Damo

What does it mean anyway? Anybody notice any difference to the delivery of services?

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From a teaching point of you.

There's been 1 directive so far:

-No parent teacher meetings after schools

There have also been strong recommendations, expected to be made directives in the coming weeks
-No staff meetings after school
-No sports training after school
-No communion/confirmation activities after school

and a few other bits and pieces.

Unworkable in my opinion and those to suffer will be the kids. I certainly wont be stopping training the kids, so I wont be joining the into til the work to rule is over.

Id imagine youll see a lot of people going against parts of the directive and itl be interestin to see if they actually throw them out of the union.

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Originally Posted by Fr Damo

What does it mean anyway?

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Just doing your basic job - no extra's, non-cooperation with any proposed changes. Some organisations have attempted to implement stuff that was part of the agreement that the Government welched on - obviously with no overall agreement, there is no agreement.

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Originally Posted by Fr Damo

Anybody notice any difference to the delivery of services?

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The impact probably won't be felt by the general public, at this stage, although some places could have reduced opening hours, and some things might be slower. That's part of the reason it's starting with this.

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Originally Posted by micls

There have also been strong recommendations, expected to be made directives in the coming weeks
-No staff meetings after school
-No sports training after school
-No communion/confirmation activities after school

and a few other bits and pieces.

Unworkable in my opinion and those to suffer will be the kids. I certainly wont be stopping training the kids, so I wont be joining the into til the work to rule is over.

Id imagine youll see a lot of people going against parts of the directive and itl be interestin to see if they actually throw them out of the union.

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You can be disciplined without being thrown out - bans on holding positions etc. The only one I would see as contentious is the sports tbh, everything else is a headache for the board of management rather than children/ parents.

As a parent I think it's a bit hypocritical of parents giving out about having to take time out to go to parent teacher meetings. They give out that the teachers should put their children first, but they want to put their work first.

I obviously would always be a trade union member anyway, but I would've thought that teaching was one profession that it was essential.

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Originally Posted by Fr Damo

What does it mean anyway? Anybody notice any difference to the delivery of services?

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I'd imagine most of the changes will be internal. I know where I used to work, the handling of Parliamentary Questions and other letters to the minister etc will not be handled by certain grades. Won't affect the generalpublic but will **** off people in authority

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Originally Posted by Macy

I obviously would always be a trade union member anyway, but I would've thought that teaching was one profession that it was essential.

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I taught for a while but didn't join a Union. They just didn't seem to give a toss about the issues that teachers actually talked about every day- and those mostly involved discipline.

While the TUI were not too bad, the ASTI couldn't seem to see anything other than € signs.

On the current situation- I don't know what the Unions hope to achieve. Pay had increased to much, it had to be rowed back a bit. And ruling out reforms just turns even more people against you.

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Originally Posted by Macy

You can be disciplined without being thrown out - bans on holding positions etc. The only one I would see as contentious is the sports tbh, everything else is a headache for the board of management rather than children/ parents.

As a parent I think it's a bit hypocritical of parents giving out about having to take time out to go to parent teacher meetings. They give out that the teachers should put their children first, but they want to put their work first.

I obviously would always be a trade union member anyway, but I would've thought that teaching was one profession that it was essential.

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According to our into reps report from mondays meeting the talk was of kicking out people who didnt follow the directive, whether it would actually happen or not I dont know.

A fair few at the meeting indicated they would leave the into and keep their 28euro a month before giving up training the kids in their own time after school.

Quite strong opinions on both side of the debate there and split pretty much 50/50.

On being in the union, Id always meant to join but hadnt gotten around to sending off the form.

I dont see any point in me joining at the moment when I have no intention of following a directive that will come in the next few weeks (training the kids). I'll see how this pans out but will join at some stage Im sure.