FINE GAEL LIED ABOUT ENDING HOSPITAL TROLLEY CRISIS

On Monday there were 510 patients stuck on hospital trolleys. Yet nearly five years ago, Fine Gael won an election by promising to end the scandal of the trolley crisis. Health Minister Leo Varadkar has also presided over the cancellation of a record number of 13,000 scheduled operations. The cause of this crisis is that they have closed hospital wards, got rid of 5,000 nurses and cut their pay. People Before Profit favours investment in a high quality public service that is funded by progressive taxation. We don't need to pay three times - though health insurance, taxes and hospital charges- to end up on a HSE trolley.

(NOTE: DETAILS ON YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL TROLLEY COUNT BY BE FOUND BY CHECKING TROLLEY WATCH on https://www.inmo.ie/6022)

FINES ON WAY FOR REFUSING NEW ELECTRICITY METERS

We are to be fined if we refuse to accept new smart electricity meters, according to new rules from the Commission on Energy Regulation. These meters will charge more for electricity usage during peak hours and less for off peak hours. The cost of installation will be €750 million and that will be loaded onto ESB consumers in a 'distribution charge' over the next five years. That is on top of a charge of €64 'Public Service Obligation Levy' a year which is used to subsidise private companies. And, yes, contracts are to be awarded for the new metering programme. Denis must be getting ready again.

S.P.A.R.K

SPARK is a campaign of group of single parents that came together after Budget 2012 to oppose Minister Joan Burton's cuts to the One Parent Family Allowance. This budget which was to be implemented up until 2017, has seen single parents cut more than any other section of society. 

Parents with children over seven years old have been cut off OPFA without any childcare provided. The income disregard for working lone parents has been cut from €146.50 to €90. These changes have made it harder for parents to enter the workforce. One parent families have the highest levels of poverty in Ireland, and 63% suffer two or more forms of deprivation on a regular basis. The knock on effect of multiple cuts such as rent allowance, Back to School Allowance with cuts to the lone parents allowance has resulted in a spike of many seeking help from charities. Prior to Minister Burton’s cuts 60% of lone parents were in some form of employment, this has now been reduced to 36%.

In 1997 a single parent could claim OPFA up until their youngest was 18 years old, or 22 if in full time education. The income disregard in 1997 was €146.50 and never increased over the boom years. To put this into context in 2017 the income disregard will be €90 and a parent can only claim OPFA up to age seven. This means one parent families are clearly worse off than they were 20 years ago.

SPARK recognise that the OPFA system had many poverty traps and failures, but such severe cuts without adequate childcare, social housing and other supports is adding to child poverty.

SPARK will be over the election period running a campaign to get lone parents registered to vote. They will also put forward a questionnaire to all candidates and parties to see who supports proposed recommendations for one parent families. Those who support and those who don't will be rated by SPARK to highlight to lone parents who will work for them when they cast their vote.

SPARK fully endorse PBP Alliance for their continued support, and rate them as a party to vote for in GE16.