A chance meeting with an old friend has moved me to write about him, to tell his story, to try to explain how just one of Ireland’s citizens is living life in 2011.
Sean is 47 years old, divorced, and raising two teenage kids on his own. He lives in rural Ireland, in a small cottage. He has no mortgage, drives a 12 year old car, and has loans of about 6000 euro. A manageable lifestyle some would presume, nothing too out of control or overbearing.
However, Sean was telling me he is considering emigrating. Why?
Well, you see Sean is one of the new unemployed, he holds a first class Honours Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and was self employed, he worked within the schools system providing support services to troubled teenagers. He had been doing this for the past four years. Now due to the austerity cuts, Sean’s services are no longer considered worth retaining. He along with others, have been considered to be a ‘non essential service’ Last Easter, these cuts hit Him and his family.
He was telling me, that many of the children that he worked with had remained in school, obtaining a Leaving Certificate, because he was there for them, they had told him as much, and surely the long term benefit of this to both the individual and society as a whole is clear to see.
And yet, Sean now finds himself struggling to survive. he receives approximately 210 euro a week to live on, with little prospect of earning an income in the future due to continued austerity policies. As he was self employed he is entitled to ‘no further assistance’. He needs to service loans, pay insurance for the house, car, and his life. He holds no health insurance. He has no heating oil for the winter, and often sits by candlelight in the evening to conserve electricity costs. As the closest shop supermarket is about 10kms from his home, he needs to drive, but tells me that he only leaves his house once a day if he can, as the petrol prices are now too much to bear. He contributes to community groups, the church, and local football team, and gives of his time because ‘it is important’, and is happy to do so, but is finding this even difficult to keep up, because of transport costs.
The reality he says is that “when I take out my costs, insurances, loans, petrol, Electricity, phone, I am left , if I’m lucky, with about 70 euro a week to feed and clothe the family, it is near impossible. But moreover, it is just an existence, not a life, I want more than this for more kids” All of this was manageable when he was earning a wage.
“But I am one of the lucky ones, at least I can emigrate, as I hold dual citizenship, I feel sorry for those that cant leave, for they will be hit with even more cuts and taxes, and bled dry” My family and I will be o.k, for we will leave here, it will be struggle to start a new life, but it will be a struggle worthwhile, which shall bring a quality of life…..surely that is better than having a struggle that brings no promise, no hope, no life…..?”
Having known Sean for many years, it must be noted, that his demeanour has changed. He appears less burdened, more hopeful, and excited at building a new life for his family, and he says he will never return. Why?
Because he values his life, his children, his future.
His last words to me were…”Austerity works both ways,my friend, If you want to withdraw services, take my money,cut and run with it,….then I have the right to do the same.!”
Maybe he has a point………
Voice.
reclaimthevoice 
Good article. Tough decision on his part. Takes courage.
Glenn
This is a dreadful indictment of our society where the rich are looked after by our government. My nephew is in the same boat, a qualified carpenter, he is off to Australia next Sunday, to be followed by his wife and children before christmas, my sister is heartbroken as this is her second son to emigrate, jesus I thought we left all that heartache behind us years ago.
Stories like this are becoming an everday occurence Voicy. And the poor kids that will lose out becasue of this man no longer being there for them will suffer badly. Our government don’t seem to see the bigger picture, the blinkers are on. It will cost this country dearly in the future to do this to those kids. This is not what we voted for in the election. They are casting aside the needs of the ordinary people. Keep writing Voicy
My response. http://dublintaxies.blogspot.com/2011/09/irish-people-being-exported-like.html
While it is a sad story and one of many we all only have ourselves to blame. We repeatedly voted in people we know (and didn’t want to acknowledge) were self-serving. We repeatedly ignored the ones who spoke out against them and refused to give them a chance to make the changes that were required to prevent a lot (not all) of what has happened to this country.
And in the last election we voted in AGAIN more of the same with a different title, so much so that the few that were different are now being made to conform within the Dáil.
As long as we keep doing what we’ve always done, we’ll keep getting what we’ve always got. Sean does not need to emigrate, he can if he chooses change where he works, instead he like many in Ireland always do – emigrate and leave the problem behind for others to solve instead of fixing it, from HERE!!!