A letter to an Taoiseach from the working poor of Ireland

You see, Taoiseach, I am one of the so-called lucky ones. I have managed to re-secure employment after a horrendous five or six years. I, like many, suffered immensely due to the financial crash and not in terms of lost investments or the likes.

At the end of the day, I was just an ordinary working woman who had reared my kids single-handedly throughout the years. I am a divorcee in my 50s, with no family remaining, apart from my children. I always worked for my living, reared my children through difficulty times, but survived.

But the crash hit me badly because after 31 years, I found myself unemployed. I then lost my home as a consequence of losing my job. I also lost my long-standing excellent credit rating, lost my social standing, my self-esteem and hope for my future. I became a casualty of the crash.

However, Taoiseach, I should now be counting my blessings. I am working again and am no longer just a statistic. But, all is not quite as it seems.

Over the last four to five years, I tried and tried with all my might to find employment in a very difficult labour market. I got lots of jobs - all temporary, contract positions lasting between three and 12 months. I managed to keep my periods of "unemployment and signing on" to the very minimum. None of these positions were easily got or reachable. I had to travel to them all - some involved round trips of up to 300kms per day (from a city in the south-east to Dublin), so basically these jobs merely helped me regain some self-esteem, but were never financially beneficial. Indeed, without question, they cost me in travel and wear and tear on my car.

Presently, I am in another temporary contract position. It's great to have a job to go to every day but, alas, that is about the entire positive I can say about it. You see, Taoiseach, I now travel 140kms a day to work, five days a week. The day is long, it's a 12-hour day. Up at 6am, home at 7pm, with a 2.5-hour drive and eight-hour working day in between. Then it's cook quick, eat quicker and then to bed to prepare to do it all over again the following day. My reward for my 12-hour day and pressured job, is €364 a week after tax, PRSI, USC. To those on long-term unemployment, that might seem pretty decent. But, just for fun, let's break down my expenses.

Take home pay €364. Out of this, €85 for petrol weekly. I'm then left with €279. Then, like everyone else, I must pay my way - rent €100 a week (in a very damp house); food €50 a week; Credit Union debts €20 a week; €20 (for car tax/insurance/maintenance/NCT, etc); €8 a week cable TV (my only entertainment); €7 a week bin charges; €15 electric meter; and €20 for drum of heating oil a week. So I am left with the miserly sum of €39, for incidentals and crisis events.

As I write to you, Taoiseach, I am not full of festive cheer. I cannot afford Christmas (once again). There will be no elaborate Christmas day feast in my home. Taoiseach, you and your Government have won the battle, but lost the war and sustained huge numbers of casualties along the way.

But I will not be a humbug and will not be envious of how many will celebrate, spend, party and feast lavishly this Christmas. I will wish all of you in political office a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, but I hope as you all celebrate, you will acknowledge how you have broken so many and created a new social class of citizen - The Working Poor of Ireland.

Name and address with Editor

Political reform still needed

I voted for Fine Gael for the first time in my life at the last general election, solely on the basis that they advocated meaningful electoral reform - which is essential for changing the way our country is governed.

Therefore, I was delighted to see Ivan Yates's excellent article on this subject (December 18).

He stated that the dysfunctional multi-seat PR system only leads to local competition between candidates from the same party.

He is correct and I believe that this is a corrosive cancer which forces the candidates into the lowest form of clientelism and parish pump politics.

Irrespective of how well-meaning a candidate may be in their desire to put the well-being of the country first, if they do not give preference to the local issue above what is right for the country, their fellow candidate - very often from the same party - will do so. The consequence of doing what is right for the country as against what is popular can result in the loss of one's seat at the next election.

What is required to get away from this system - which only creates political paralysis for genuine politicians - is a radical reform of the electoral system. What is needed is a 100-seat Dail with single-seat constituencies elected by proportional representation. County boundaries would be respected here, eg Leitrim would be one constituency or perhaps two. Counties with larger populations would have three or four constituencies, this would be worked out to concur with the present constitution requirement of electors per constituency. This requirement could also be reviewed as for being fit for purpose.

Paul Connolly

Co Kildare

Keane interest

I have no interest in any sport, but I always devoured the late Con Houlihan's sports columns.

Now I read those columns of Billy Keane. And wasn't I very glad that I do, especially when I read his account of the time spent with the last of the Dingle nuns. One to be treasured

Mattie Lennon,

Blessington, Co Wicklow

Post offices are out to lunch

Reading Billy Keane's moving article about the transfer of their beloved Listowel Post Office reminds me of another annoying and unresolved issue. Why are post offices still closing for lunch? Why - at a time best suited to a large number of the public they purport to serve - do they lock their doors from 1pm to 2pm each day?

I know of no business - in any walk of life - which shuts their doors to their customers at times best suited to those they serve.

Liam Cassidy

Celbridge, Co Kildare

Don't speak little of EU action

Funny how when you drink non-stop they call it an illness, but when you eat non-stop they call it greed. The truth is that they are both serious addictions.

Because you, dear reader, can stop at a half-pint of lager and a light salad, do not judge other people by your own fortunate standards.

Thank heavens, the EU are now bringing in some proper legislation to protect fatties in the workplace.

David Woosnam

Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England

In for the Count?

At last, I can (thanks to James Gleeson) confess to being an avid Count Curly Wee fan. Any more readers willing to stand up and be... counted?

Tom Gilsenan

Beaumont, Dublin 9

Optimism a vital elixir

What a fabulous letter from Benita Lennon (December 18). My friend, health, happiness, and long life to you. We deserve more people like you in this wonderful, but troubled world.

Sean Brannigan,

Dundalk, Co Louth