Sir, – While there has been some debate about free medical care for children on this page being subsidised by single people (Letters, July 11th), I think it is fair to say most would have no issue with it.
It is more an issue of the focus on “family forward” measures and on the family in Ireland. It is endemic.
How often has a politician or journalist referred to a household when talking about government policies or economic policies, invariably all referring to families?
As the most recent census shows, 43 per cent of people are single in comparison with 41 per cent in 2016. Single people are often looked down upon for their single-person status in Irish society.
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In recent budgets there have been no targeted measures for single people or single-person households. High rent, house prices, food and electricity prices affect single people at a greater percentage of household income as there is only one income to fall back on. This then makes it harder for single people to build wealth over their working life than a two-income family.
Inheritance taxation rules are far more punitive to a single person. Holidays are more expensive per person due to single supplements. They are far less likely to be in a position to avail of reduced working arrangements. A single person must make a greater contribution to the Fair Deal scheme than a person who is part of a couple. A single person must also, in 2023, sign a waiver upon entering into a mortgage to say their home is not a “family home”, thereby giving them less protection should they end up in financial distress. The Equal Status Act says you can’t discriminate on family status, alas...
Families have greater tax credits, and dependent credits for children are fair, but for just getting married, really?
In the past number of years, adjustments have been made to college fees, creche fees, child benefit bonuses, school book reductions in primary school, extended free GP care, to name a few.
Where is the balance for other types of households in terms of targeted measures? It is hard not to feel like a government cash cow.
Often the flippant response to single people arguing about these disparities is that other people’s children will pay their pension. But once a person has paid enough contributions, this entitlement is open to everyone, not just single people. Single people may have paid in for 40 years themselves by the time they retire.
Perhaps the original writer’s feelings were more of frustration and feeling disregarded rather than an actual opposition to free GP care for children.
A share of the spoils and just some decent consideration would go a long way. – Yours, etc,
NIAMH BYRNE,
Fairview,
Dublin 3.