My 2009 budget: The middle income family
Evening Herald
Spending on education will hit Kenny family.
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Wednesday October 15 2008
The hardest hit are those who are trying to fill their petrol tanks
Jeremy Kenny (46) lives with his wife Sharon and their sons Charles (12), Sam (10) and Luke (6) in Rathmichael, Co Dublin.
Jeremy and Sharon are owners of Kenny Marketing and are currently in the process of selling their home, which has a €2.5m asking price.
According to Jeremy, the Budget will hit middle income families the hardest.
He says the Government has failed to properly invest in education and healthcare.
Falling
"Spending on education in the Budget is not even keeping up with inflation.
"From a capital building point of view, they are already seriously falling behind, every week on the news, we hear of promises that the Government has not kept -- in providing new school places.
"I have three children at school. We have to invest in the children of today -- who will be the adults of tomorrow. In education and health, they have really let the country down.
"I think the Budget is very hard-hitting on middle incomes.
"There is some stuff that will affect the wealthier, but people who will be hardest hit are those who are trying to fill their petrol tanks.
Jeremy feels that the VAT increase will make shopping more expensive for everyone.
"The 1pc income levy will be a shock for people but I think it's the indirect taxes that will hit the amount of cash most people have in their pockets ," he said.
"I think the Budget is going to have an inflationary effect.
Fair
"The tax on air travel is fair enough, I have no bones about that and I don't think it will stop anybody going anywhere.
"We have a second house, but I wouldn't put ourselves in the category of being particularly well-off.
"Business is by no means booming, it's hard for everyone at the moment.
"Hopefully with the Budget out of the way now, we will all get a chance to put our heads down and move forward.
