Social Welfare in the UK

[Whickerman]

There's a budget here in Ireland in about a month, and there's uproar because the govt plans to cut social welfare. I'm genuinely lucky in that both my wife and I are in full time employment, but I guess it's bloody hard if you're not.
At present, here, a single person on the dole or pension gets €204 a week (£184 sterling). Lone parents get €204 plus €26 per child but can earn a further €145.60 without loss of benefits.
Also child benefit is at €166 per month for the first child, the same for the second and increases to €203 per child thereafter - (every parent gets this, regardless of income/job status).
Everyone on benefits gets free medical treatment and medication, and there's the usual social housing etc. Granted this isn't a fortune but we don't have water rates or council tax here.

How does this compare with the UK?

[flobadob]

I'm also from Ireland, quite close to Northern Ireland. Let me give an example of how stupid my country has gotten to the North. There are jobs going in Derry offering £12000 a year, after tax we'll call it £11000, I may be wrong. Currently that is €12500 tops. The current dole in Ireland is around €11000 without other benefits included. The country definitely ran away with itself with all the european money we got but its gonna come to an end very soon. I think whickerman was setting this q up and knew more than he was letting on but he made an excellent point about the uselessness of the irish govt. over the last 15 years. I would say to whickerman however, what do you think of the other crowd?

[Whickerman]

Hi Flobalob - that puts it in perspective. Actually I honestly had no idea what the income levels in the UK are on benefits and I'm genuinely shocked about the difference. I suppose the border must be a bloody nightmare for people in that sense, as they'll be using the same shops but with a huge difference in incomes? I hadn't thought of that aspect tbh.
As to this crowd in power here - we got what we voted for. Fianna Fail never got my vote; the greens got no-ones, but we are where we are. As to Fine Gael - they could be an interesting alternative but they need to get rid of the mannequin that leads the party.
Labour are now so right-on that I'm actually at a loss as to where to give my preference next time. An example of this is they have gender quotas now and in my local area they wnated three candidates, yet disallowed a respected experienced candidate simply because he's a man; and because they had no woman to take his place they went without the third candidate. How can I vote for that? Sinn Fein are loonies too - their fiscal policies would ruin us in weeks.

[flobadob]

Well when I look at Fianna Fail policy it just seems to be how can they get more money from people so that they can waste it, Fine Gael are sh*te, as are the greenhorns, I despise them and their stupid policies. I also agree with you about Sinn Feins fiscal policy, but then again look where we are now. Labour look ok but think that's mainly down to Gilmore and how can one know that it isn't just bravado?