More budget bluesThe duration of Jobseeker’s Benefit will be reduced from 12 months to 9 months for recipi-ents with 260 or more contributions paid.Benefit will be reduced from 9 months to 6 months for recipients with fewer than 260 contributions paid. These measures come into effect on April 3rd 2013. The Telephone Allowance will be reduced from €22.58 to a new monthly rate of €9.50 . That is a cut of €157 a year. Effective January 2013.The Electricity/Gas Allowance will be set at a single rate of €35 per month – it was previ-

ously set at 150 units a month . Previously when prices rose the allowance rose .The Back to School Clothing and Foot-wear Allowance will reduce from €250 to €200 for children aged 12 years and over and from €150 to €100 for children aged 4-11 yearsThe €300 Cost of Education Allowance payable to Back to Education Allowance par-ticipants will be stopped for new and existing participantsThere were increases to car tax. Some rates have increased by as much as 25%. If you have a car that was taxed under the current Band B and the emission rate is 130 to 140 g/km – then the rate will go up from €225 to €280 a year.

The local Property Tax announced in the budget will come into effect in July this year. This is not a wealth tax or a progressive measure. This tax will push many families over the edge.It is unfair as it does not take into account your ability to pay. In addi-tion local authorities and voluntary housing agencies are now expected to pay. This extra cost will most likely be passed on to tenants. The tax has been set at the following rates; market value under €100,000 the tax will be €90, from €100,000 to €149,999 the tax will be €225, from €150,000 to €199,999 the tax will be €315, from €200,000 to €249,999 the tax will be €405 and so on. There are also water taxes due under the troika agreement in 2014.The new tax will replace the Household Charge which was met with a magnificent campaign of mass non-payment and public protest. That campaign was the most serious, national, mass opposition to date by ordinary citizens against the EU/IMF austerity programme. TheGovernment have been forced to drop their plan to have the Property Tax collected by Local Authorities and transfer collection to the Rev-enue Commission.New extensive and draconian powers have been given to Revenue to try and enforce the tax. The tax can now be deducted from your pay, wel-fare payments and state pension. Those who need a tax clearance cert for grants or are self-employed will not get one unless they have paid.If you do not make a self-assessment of the value of your home, the Revenue can make an assessment and even enter your home to do so. They will then deduct the tax and any penalties or fines at source. Over 700,000 households refused to pay last year’s Household Tax. The Government will not move against the non-payers until after the 30th of April. The outstanding arrears remain at €130 until this date. The government have responded to the success of the campaignagainst the household charge by changing the goal posts. The campaign now has to respond to the change in tactics by the government.

The demonstration, of over 20,000 people, in Dublin on November 24th last year was a big success. Linking the issue of the Property Tax to opposition to austerity in general is crucial as is maintaining and developing the links with trade union and community groups and other campaigns like Home Helps, lone parents, carers etc. The campaign will work for a mass mobilisation for the rallies called by ICTU on February 9th. We have to make sure that February 9th is not a one off, but part of an on-going struggle. If ICTU walks away again after February, the campaign should work with the groups mentioned above to organise mass assemblies to discuss ways to continue the fight from below.Part of the strategy should also be to ensure that all politicians who sup-port austerity cuts get a right good kicking in the Local and European Elections next year.Struggles such as these are not won easily or overnight. The original battle over water charges was fought over two decades. The final victory was won when a new government decided it didn’t have the stomach to continue the battle.

Property Tax is a Tax on Homes

The Great BetrayalThis year we will be celebrating the struggle in 1913 in Dublin by working people to demand justice and a decent life for their fami-lies. That struggle was led by James Connolly and Jim Larkin, the founders of the Labour Party.The contrast between these great leaders and the smug well heeled elite who lead today’s Labour Party couldn’t be greater. Labour fought the 2011 election on the premise that in government they would mitigate the worst of Fine Gael’s right wing policies. Let’s look at the record so far.

* This government have continued with the same policies as Fianna Fail. As a result aver-age family income is down by 10% since 2009. For low to moderate paid workers, those who lost their jobs, lone parents, carers, people with disability, the fall is actually greater. Meanwhile, the rich have gotten richer.

* The changes in PRSI means that the 20% of workers who are low paid will lose the same amount of the weekly wage as the very highest paid.

* Labour cravenly capitulated to Fine Gael when they refused to raise taxes for those earn-ing over €100,000 a year. The tax policy of this government is being dictated by big business and tax consultants.

* Instead of helping the 180,000 households in trouble with their mortgages they have im-posed a property tax on ordinary homes.

* The Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) estimated that the 2013 budget will cost between 25,000 and 35,000 jobs.

As expected Child Benefit was reduced in Budget 2013 – the new rates will apply from Janu-ary. Most people will be expect-ing the cut to be just €10 a month per child. But the reality is that child ben-efit has been cut by as much as €20 a month for some children in larger families. This is because of cuts that were already due to happen because of the previous budget . For the first 2 children child benefit has been cut by €10 a month. The rate for the third child has been reduced by €18 a month from €148 to €130. The rate for the fourth and each sub-sequent child is now €140 per

month from January 2013 . That is a cut of €20 a month . Student fees are to rise to €2,500 in 2013 and by another €250 in 2014 and 2015. These will make it harder for working class families to send the chil-dren to college.In contrast a small. cut to the funding of fee paying schools was announced – There are about 26000 pupils at private schools in Ireland – so that works out at a cut of €230 per pupil. Maybe the schools will have to increase the fees by that much a year? Will many of the parents even notice ? Education a right not a privilege Ask Labour Minis-ter Ruairi Quinn.

United Left AlternativeWe propose making those with real wealth and high incomes, plus companies mak-ing huge profits pay for the crisis. We also propose serious measures to tackle the jobs crisis and to get the economy moving.

Don’t pay the debt – It’s not ours!* The ULA proposes to write down the national debt to pre-crash levels and halt all debt/interest payments incurred as a consequence of the crash. This would reduce debt-interest to about €1.6 billion next year. Repudiating the debt would also mean cancelling the planned €3.1 billion in annual payments to Anglo.* Redirect money held by Irish banks to pay bondholders (€17.4 billion available for 2013 alone) to a Jobs Fund to create 180,000 jobs directly and another 150,000 by stimulating economic recovery. Other sources would include a Jobs Bond, NPRF investment, pension funds and Credit Unions.* As part of democratic public control of the banks, mortgages should be written down*Increase total income tax-take on the wealthiest 5% by €2.5 billion* Introduce a ‘Millionaires Tax’ to raise €2.8 billion in 2013; set up a wealth and assets register.*A tax on bond and share trading of 0.1% and on derivatives of 0.01% would raise an estimated €500 million.* Impose an effective corporation tax rate of 12.5%, rising to nominal 15%. An effec-tive rate of 12.5% would raise €4 billion and an increase to 15% would raise another €1billion.

Labour’s broken promises

0612

United Left Alliance NewsletterWinter 2013

Putting People before Profit

While wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year I am very mindful of how difficult it is going to be as we enter the fifth year of austerity and mass unemployment. If you are lucky enough to still have a job you will by now have noticed the government have once again dipped into your pay packet to take more in PRSI. If you have just lost your job you will now only receive Job Seekers Benefit for nine months instead of twelve. The latest cut in Child Benefit will kick in this year as will all the other cuts from December’s budget. There are two issues about austerity. Firstly, it’s not fair. It puts the cost of the crisis onto those who can least afford it, while defending the rich and the bankers. Secondly, it’s not working. Taking money out of the pockets of ordinary people means they have less to spend in the economy. Demand has collapsed by almost 30% since 2008. That is why we have mass unemployment and emigration. Where is the money going? This year some €9 billion will go out of the country to pay interest on the national debt. Another €17 billion will be paid out this year alone through the banks to various bondholders. That’s €26 billion in total. The overall tax take by the government in 2012 was just over €36 billion. This madness has to stop. The people don’t owe the bondholders. Not another cent should be paid to them. The bulk of the national debt is due to €65 Billion borrowed to bail out the banks, plus the cost of the economic collapse caused by the insane greed of the banks and property tycoons. It isn’t our debt. It should be cancelled.

Joan Collins TDIf you need any assistance you can contact me at my constituency office at10A Old County Road. (Opposite Crumlin Shopping Centre) Phone 4540085-4540086.You can also phone me atDáil Eireann, 6183215, or emailjoan.collins@oir.ie http://joan-collins .org Join the United Left Alliance text 087 7675691

Speaking in the Dáil on the budget Joan Collins pointed out that the cut in the Respite Care Grant was just one more mean cut in many where an alternative could easily be found. €70 million is to be spent on hosting the EU presidency this year, hiring a huge fleet of top of the range cars, plus big dinners and gifts for well heeled people who don’t need them. Denmark capped its spending on the presidency at €35 million. If the government did the same, it could easily have offset the €27 million it aims to save on Respite Care.

Joan Collins TD has been working very closely with her colleague Cllr Pat Dunne on a wide range of local and council issues. Cllr Pat Dunne is working full time in Joan’s constituency office. The office is open five days a week and offers advice and assistance on all matters concerning constituents.

Dublin City Council Cuts. The 2013 budget for services was cut once again. The Government support to the Council through the Local Fund Allocation was reduced by a further 6% to €50.4 million. It was €105 million in 2008 which means a reduction of over 50% in the past six years. The effect of these reductions can be seen right across the range of services delivered by the Council from street cleaning to maintenance works. Joan Collins TD supported Cllr Pat Dunne when he described these cuts as a disgrace and his description of the Labour councillors who supported the budget as uncaring.

Social Housing Crisis. In the Dublin City Council area alone there are 14,769 households and families on the waiting list in need of social housing. Of these 8,290 are in need of immediate housing. Yet shamefully the council have only budgeted to complete 226 housing units in the next three years. This complete lack of investment at a time of such needs and when so many construction workers are unemployed needs to be tackled urgently. Joan and Pat through their roles as public representatives are witnessing on a daily basis the despair that this is causing families. We are back to the dark days of families and extended families living in grossly overcrowded conditions. Both Joan and Pat will continue to campaign for a full house building programme and for the transfer of suitable Nama held properties to be handed over to the council.

Ballyfermot Senior Citizens Forum The Forum invited their local TD’s to a number of meetings before the budget to highlight how the budget cuts had affected senior Citizens and their families. There was great anger at the levels of pay for TDs and Ministers and pensions. The Forum requested that all local TDs resist further austerity cuts . Obviously

Labour and Fine Gael TDs did not head this call. One of the meanest cuts was the cut in personal safety alarms funding. Due to pressure from outraged senior citizens this cut has now been reversed. It pays to protest.

Bin Charges. Once the collection service was privatised, it was obvious it would be based on profit and not a community service. Greyhound are now charging for our recycled waste and the waiver is gone. The council must provide alternative options for people who do not wish to sign up to commercial companies.Bin collection should be provided by local Government from general taxation. Contact me for advice on the disposal of waste.

Know Your Rights. Some people are not always aware of certain supports that they may be entitled to. One such scheme is the Family Income Support Scheme (FIS). This is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with children. It gives extra financial support to people on low pay. You must be an employee working at least 19 hours a week to qualify. You must have at least one child who normally lives with you or is financially supported by you. Your average weekly family income must be below €506 with one child, €602 for two children and increases accordingly for three or more children. The FIS you receive is 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the income limit which applies to your family.

Joan Collins TD works withCllr Pat Dunne and Cllr Brid Smith and

with Tina McVeigh, People Before Profit representatives in Dublin South Central.

If you need any assistance contact the PBPA Ballyfermot office : Opening hours are

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday11am to 1pm: 2pm to 4pm: 6pm to 8pm

Saturday: 10.30am to 12,30pmJoan Collins TD holds a clinic in

the office onMondays from 4.30 to 6.30pm.

Respite Care cut unjust and unnecessary

Protesting at the Dail.

The Irish Congress of Trade unions (ICTU) have called rallies in Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo for Saturday Feb 9 to coincide with an EU Council of Ministers meeting in Ireland and to protest against the planned payment of €3.1 billion into the black hole that was Anglo Irish Bank.While many working people are disgusted with

the role played by the ICTU lead-ership, it is very important that there is a mass turnout on Feb 9. March with your union, com-munity group or the Campaign . Make your voice heard - Demand a general strike.

Saturday 9th February - Take to the streets - Make your voice heard

Local Issues and Council News