Response to Emergency Budget 2009

April 7th, 2009

The National Youth Council of Ireland expressed its dismay that Government has broken its promise not to reduce social welfare by cutting job seekers allowance in half for young people aged 18 and 19 years.

The rate of youth unemployment has soared in the last year and Government has failed to develop any coherent strategy to address it. “We reject the proposal that this measure will encourage young people to find work or return to education or training on the basis that the jobs are simply not there and few education and training opportunities have been provided to date,” commented Eddie D’Arcy, President of NYCI.

Having sustained a large cut of 10% in the October 2008 Budget we acknowledge that Government responded to our representations not to further slash the funding for youth work at a time when the needs of young people are increasing.

“However, we are concerned at the level and extent of tax increases, especially for young people earning less than the minimum wage. By doing this we are going to add to the numbers of working poor by imposing a 2% income levy on those earning as little as €289 a week before tax. Other measures such as the increase in the levy from 2% to 3% on non-life insurance will impact negatively on young drivers who already pay very high motor insurance premiums. In addition we are disappointed that the Government have sought to further tax savings by increasing DIRT tax at a time when we should be encouraging prudence and personal investment,” Mr. D’Arcy concluded.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Clodagh O’Brien, Communications Officer at the NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie

Notes to Editors:

National Youth Council of Ireland

The National Youth Council of Ireland is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of 56 voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.