Monday, November 14, 2016

Update - My Scribbles


Liver and Onions - A Day in the Life of an Ordinary Irish Drone

About three weeks ago I sent this piece to the following politicians in hopes that at least one of them would take the slightest bit of interest: 

Garry Adams
Mick Barry
Michael Colins
Simon Covney
Michael Creed
Jim Daly
Billy Kelleher 
Micheal Martin
Michael McGrath
Aindrias Moynihan
Dara Murphy
Margaret Murphy
Donnchadh O'Laoghaire
Jonathan O'Brien

Unsurprisingly, like most who call out to our government for help, I was ignored. That's not to say someone won't eventually respond but I won't be holding my breath. 


In today's economic climate, with low paying, zero hour contract jobs, there is a phrase that is thrown at many of us who are considered to be the working class; "Be grateful you have a job."

Usually this is casually uttered by someone who has no idea what is to have a minimum or slightly above minimum wage job. Now I don't entirely blame these people or would be too quick to call them ignorant, misled, perhaps. After all, with the Central Statistic Office claiming that the average annual income in this country to be aprox €35,000, you can't exactly hold those who believe this to be true to be entirely accountable for being blasé towards those of us who are struggling

In reality, the figures are far more startling. In actual fact over half of the working force in this country earns under €28,500 a year, with 20% of the population earning between €17,500 and €22,000 while a whopping 108,000 people earn less than €17,500 and these are all based on full time workers, that's 36 to 40 hours a week. That's less than €28,500 a year to spend on food, electricity, heating, refuse collection, phone/Internet, television license, school/college expenses, rent/mortgage, home insurance, car insurance, car tax, NCT, petrol/diesel, income tax and health care. Living a whole and fulfilling life on €28,500 or bellow per year is an impossibility, sacrifices and compromises must be made and I'm not talking luxuries like foregoing a holiday or new car, they don't even come into the equation... essentials have to be cut. For me, as much as I yearn for independence and freedom I have no choice but to accept that in the current climate, that day will never come. I have to continue to live at home with my parents with literally no realistic hope of ever owning my home...

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© Sarah O’Regan 


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Writing


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