John Halligan

Wednesday, 2nd February 2011

'Workers reeling from Universal Social Charge' – Halligan 

Independent candidate in the upcoming General Election Cllr. John Halligan has called on whoever forms the new Government to give a guarantee to the people of Waterford that they will reverse the Universal Social Charge.

The former Mayor of Waterford city said he has been inundated with calls from workers who, he said, have been 'left reeling' by the effect the Universal Charge has had on their pay packets since its introduction on 1st January.

"I have spoken to workers from several local industries in recent days and all have given me the same clear message – they were shattered at the drop in wages and their limited spending power has now diminished further than they could have imagined a few short years ago", Cllr. Halligan stated. "I think many expected to be down by €10 or €20 and so were gobsmacked when they realised the extent of the cuts.

"I have little doubt that the Universal Charge, coupled with the reduction in child benefit, has dropped a substantial number of middle income earners throughout Waterford into the lower income bracket. Debt is mounting up and these hard-working people are running out of ways to cut back. One young teacher in the city told me his net income would fall by over €1,000 this year. Just this week I spoke to a married couple with a young family in Tramore who stood to lose almost €2,000.

"The cumulative effect of the Universal Social Charge will be to drive the economy further into recession, since people's spending power is being decimated and that is a sure-fire way of destroying the economy."

Colr. John Halligan