Budget is more than motorists can bear -Ellis

December 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Budget is more than motorists can bear -Ellis

December 5, 2012

Deputy Ellis continued:

“Over the last few years the cost of staying on the road for many motorists has climbed considerably while public transport alternatives have also risen in cost and services have been cut.

“Many people are left with no alternative but to use private transport and they are being forced to pay more now for something they have no choice in.

“On average Motor Tax on private cars register from July 2008 will go up by 53 euro a year. Good vehicles needed for doing business, for employing people will be on average taxed 117 euro more a year.

“VRT is also set to go up by as much as 3% making it more difficult for people to upgrade their vehicles to more environmentally and economically friendly vehicles which would be liable for less Motor Tax.

“Ordinary people seeking to drive to work, small businesses seeking to transport their good, even school busses, tractors, hearse and construction vehicles are now less affordable and people are once again hit harder by this government for no other reason than their unwillingness to tackle those on high earnings.” ends

Filed Under: Ballymun, Drumcondra, Economy, Finance

Family Income Support applicants must be processed by Christmas – Ellis

November 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Dessie Ellis TD has raised concerns at the Department of Social Protection instruction to the Family Income Support section of the department to only process applications received on or after November 5th. The effect of this is that applications coming in now will be processed before the applications of families who have already been waiting for five and six months.
Deputy Ellis said every effort must be made to ensure all applicants are processed and paid before Christmas.
“I understand that the minister, along with senior officials, has taken a decision to instruct the Family Income Support section of the department to only process applications received on or after November 5th. The effect of this is that applications coming in now will be processed before the applications of families who have already been waiting for five and six months. The new applications may be processed immediately while those unfortunate enough to have made their application earlier will be left waiting.
“I understand that most of the families caught up in the pre-November 5th back log will not receive any payment at all before Christmas.
“Over 7,000 families with almost 16,000 children are caught up in this backlog. What are these families to do? What are they to do for Christmas? What are they to do with the growing arrears on their household bills?
“The average applicant who is waiting since June will by now be owed €3,500 in back payments. If they are left waiting until January, this will have risen to €4,700. Many families will have no option but to borrow these sums from money lenders and the cost of these loans will be many multiples of the money that the department owes them now.” ENDS

Filed Under: Ballymun, Economy, Finance