People Before Profit

People Before Profit Alliance Councillors Joan Collins and Brid Smyth, Dublin City Council, Richard Boyd Barrett and Hugh Lewis, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Council, and Gino Kenny, Dublin South today condemned cuts in the rate support grant from central government to local authorities which will be reflected in cuts in local services, job losses and increased charges for householders.

Councillor Joan Collins said, “On Monday Dublin City Council will propose a budget including the removal of the waiver for bin charges from the low paid and social welfare recipients. This will hit 40,000 pensioners and social welfare recipients many of whom are facing cuts in their payments as a result of the government budget announced last week. Depending on how often they use the service, they could be faced with charges for each lift, costing up to 150euro a year which they did not previously have to pay. So much for the government not attacking old age pensioners in the recent budget”.

Councillor Brid Smith said “there will be cuts and job losses as things like meals on wheels and other council provided community services are hit. Scandalously, an already underfunded fire service faces further cuts which Fire brigade members say will endanger lives.”
Cllrs Richard Boyd Barrett and Hugh Lewis will be proposing a motion to the Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown budget demanding that 80,000eruo earmarked for junkets be used instead to fund the free doctor scheme for council workers which is being discontinued due to lack of funds."

People Before Profit Councillors will be seeking the support of councillors throughout the country for a campaign of opposition to increases in local charges, cuts in services, and the planned re-introduction of water charges..

For more information contact Dermot Connolly 087 7675691