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File photo Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Almost everyone has cut spending as a result of recession

Cutting back on going out to pubs and restaurants is the most likely area of saving for households.

AN OVERWHELMING EIGHT out of ten households in Ireland have reduced spending to deal with the economic downturn according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The figures come from a breakdown of research from September 2012 and also shows that 40 per cent of households have experienced problems keeping up with bills and debts.

The CSO numbers released today contain a raft of facts that demonstrate how people are struggling to deal with the economic crisis. Cutting back on going out to pubs and restaurants is the most likely area of saving with 65 per cent of households going out less, but this is far from the only area of saving:

(Source: Central Statistics Office)

Some 14 per cent of owner occupied households with a mortgage were unable to make mortgage repayments on time at least once while almost one in five (19 per cent) of all renters say that they were late with rent at least once.

Debt

43 per cent of households surveyed said that they were experiencing great difficulty or some difficulty keeping up with debt with 69 per cent of single parent households saying they were in difficulty managing debt.

Looking specifically at those in debt difficulty, one surprising finding is perhaps that the biggest reason for problems was not necessarily a reduction in income. 47 per cent those struggling said that problems were due to loss of income while 73 per cent said it was due to higher than expected or additional costs.

Read: Here’s how many Irish businesses ‘died’ in one year >

Read: Live Register falls by 3,200 in July >

Read: 13 things we learned from the CSO’s new ‘quality of life’ data >

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75 Comments
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    Mute Steve Hardy
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:12 PM

    Does anybody know if Pat Kenny is leaving RTE I can’t find anything about it on the Journal

    284
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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:14 PM

    Does anyone know if Pat Kenny has cut back his spending?

    189
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    Mute TheIrishBrain
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:22 PM

    I read somewhere that live register numbers have fallen again according to CSO figures.

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    Mute phunkyboy
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:34 PM

    Who’s Pat Kenny ?

    90
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    Mute Brianán Mc Bride
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:43 PM

    Front page of Daily Mail states he is going to Newstalk as they have doubled his current wages

    45
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    Mute Jim Lenihan
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:05 PM

    yes more and more leaving the country

    38
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    Mute bignazza
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:52 PM

    Didn’t you say the exact same thing on about 3 other articles so far ?

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    Mute Hedley Lamarr
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:10 PM

    I don’t know what a tracker mortgage is.

    68
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    Mute Iam D Best
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:16 PM

    course it was the moola Pat, he’s such a rat

    19
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    Mute Frank Brady
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:28 PM

    I have to confess I broke out today and bought a mag in Easons,First one in ages

    181
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    Mute Paul Geraghty
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:02 PM

    Ah jaysus Frank could you not afford the owl adult channels on sky anymore!!!

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    Mute Hedley Lamarr
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:09 PM

    The old, Pay 4 screw

    25
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    Mute Leonard Annett
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:14 PM

    I miss being able to afford going to the pub every week.

    99
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    Mute macca
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:46 PM

    I can afford a night out each weekend with my pals! Socialising and getting out is very important!

    50
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    Mute Ciaran Harford
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    Aug 1st 2013, 5:47 PM

    Irish ppl will always find money for a pint.

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    Mute macca
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    Aug 1st 2013, 6:02 PM

    A pint or not! It’s getting out for a night out and not staring at the 4 walls of your house/apartment all the time

    31
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    Mute Frank Whelan
    Favourite Frank Whelan
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:09 PM

    Cutting back is right, I haven’t gone out to a pub in ages, the weekly shopping is to a minimum & the next cutback is TV Apparatus licence!!! No more money is goin to those feckers!

    84
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    Mute Brianán Mc Bride
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:34 PM

    When the water rates come in will they go to Europe too just like household tax? Government can’t be believed or trusted.

    57
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    Mute Conor O' Runaidh
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:37 PM

    And with this we’ll be told to increase our spending to get business again all while being cut deeper then be told we should have saved.

    29
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    Mute TheIrishBrain
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:20 PM

    Everyone has cut back except TDs.

    81
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    Mute Rehabmeerkat
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:43 PM

    Tds got done by croke park 2 also

    12
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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:00 PM

    They did but if I was on their salery losing 10% is not much pain to take.

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    Mute TheIrishBrain
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:03 PM

    Public Got done.

    40
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    Mute Damian Moran
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:07 PM

    Salary cut yes but TD’S and minsters
    Expenses is huge a TD I know says he can live of his expenses every month and never touch his wages. As for government minsters their dry cleaning
    Unvouched allowance is €5000 to name but one. Top civil servant also get these allowances.shameful…

    58
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    Mute Parmenides
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:07 PM

    Groundbreaking.

    79
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:11 PM

    Statistics have a way of coldly pointing out what is already common sense.

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    Mute Steve Hardy
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:14 PM

    You always seem to use that photo, she really should have gotten a trolley.

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    Mute Parmenides
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:18 PM

    There’s nothing I like more than a good statistic, especially when it confirms an opinion or idea of mine. But I feel in this instance, nobody needed stats to make the points made in this article.

    Next you’ll have an article describing how statistics show there’s less rain on days of full sun coverage.

    62
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    Mute Omar johnson
    Favourite Omar johnson
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:34 PM

    Not me. I spend more

    20
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    Mute Paula Cunningham Moran
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:39 PM

    She doesn’t need a trolley, she has cut back on spending, ha, ha

    42
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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:06 PM

    I’m up in Newry 4 times a week buying essentials for half of my estate. We’re saving quite a bit, but the real bonus is knowing that the VAT we pay won’t be going to pay wealthy criminals debts!

    90
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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:24 PM

    Nope, will just be going away from your own country into the UK exchequer.

    70
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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:38 PM

    Yeah, but at least the UK will reinvest it in the UK economy.

    36
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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:55 PM

    She probably just intended to get a couple of things. You know yourself.

    31
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:57 PM

    In other earth shattering news allegedly up to 41% of statistics in these blindingly obvious “news’ stories are not actually accurate and and up to 59% of don’t knows actually already know

    15
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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:57 PM

    Wow, the UK sure sounds swell!

    14
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    Mute Vinny Mulhall
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:54 PM

    Minister have taken a hit to their wages but their un-vouched expenses have risen to compensate the loss . Lol ,
    They think we’re thick and if we were sure we would be giving all our oil and gas reserves away for nothing.

    74
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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:03 PM

    But Vinny the cut to their wage still does not put them anywhere near the majority of the wages or the pain the rest of the country is feeling. I agree with your expenses point.

    54
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    Mute Vinny Mulhall
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:08 PM

    Sorry man , I meant that as sarchaism about the ‘political welfare recipients ‘
    Who get us to pay for their private healthcare because they wouldn’t use the one they expect the rest of us to us.

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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:28 PM

    I didnt pick up on that haha

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    Mute Dan Mullins
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:16 PM

    In other news, the pope is a catholic

    61
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    Mute Jimmy
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:22 PM

    The ‘Long Term” unemployed haven’t….you look at their shopping trollies…full to the brim of expensive “nutritious” foodstuffs…the rest if us scrimping for offers..great little country if you could put a roof on it…

    51
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    Mute Seamus Ryan
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:01 PM

    Nice generalisation there. Come look at my trolly you ignorant troll

    60
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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:26 PM

    I’m more concerned with the fact that he seems to seeks out the long term unemployed to follow them to the supermarket and lurk around their trollies, but whatever blows your skirt up, Jimmy!

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    Mute Jimmy
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:25 PM

    Not really Seamus…you know who I mean by the “Long Term” Unemployed…I suppose you could call them the “permanent” unemployed….unless you are one of those…

    26
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    Mute Thomas Newell
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    Aug 1st 2013, 5:44 PM

    you must be blind like the fella in your profile pic jimmy to make a stupid comment like that

    6
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    Mute Ian Stack
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:23 PM

    so 82% of us have cut back while the other 18% have not…no doubt those in the 18% bracket are the cretins that got us in the financial mess!! The poor get poorer and the rich get richer

    40
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    Mute Eoin Sherry
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:24 PM

    Buy the butter missus you need it or you don’t. you already bought kitchen towels and fairy.

    34
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    Mute colin
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:04 PM

    And in other news….. Bear sighted sh1tting in woods.

    23
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    Mute Ronan C Gantly
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    Aug 1st 2013, 6:35 PM

    And finally it has emerged that 89% of 100 is shockingly exposed as being short 11% …government budgetary watchdogs say the shortfall must be made up from cuts to public services in thud years budget !!!

    5
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    Mute Wesley Eccles
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:16 PM

    No shit Sherlock. Hmmm.

    23
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    Mute Iam D Best
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:20 PM

    i’ve cut off UPC, using a wind up internet modem at the moment and my laptop is now powered by solar panels

    23
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    Mute Marist '59
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    Aug 1st 2013, 4:52 PM

    Since I retired in 92 I have year on year upped my spending on all fronts. My daughter keeps asking me to slow down. Seems there won’t be enough left for herself and her brothers.

    22
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    Mute Bob Coggins
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:10 PM

    Apart from Newstalk…

    21
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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Aug 1st 2013, 2:19 PM

    Cut spending? Get away outta da!! Course if we paddys weren’t such piss faces, We’d be minted! Jus sayin LIKE ;)

    19
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    Mute R Neuville
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    Aug 1st 2013, 7:29 PM

    How to Clawback the unjust and offensive Local Property Tax on your Family Homes.

    - “Give up your ol’ bins” – get a bin partner, preferably one with an exemption : Save €360
    - “Give up the smokes” – it wont kill you but it will kill the taxman : €2500
    - “Give up your high street shopping” : free parking out of town : Save €150
    - “Give up your Daft Car Tax” : only when you need it : Save €250
    - “Give up the new cars” : No VRT on used cars : Save daft €6000 : “Not Green Jersey anyway!”
    - “Give up Med1 lapses” : submit without fail. Save €250
    - Give up your Direct Debit for the LPT” : write ‘em a cheque every month.

    “Dont get angry with the taxman, get even : why not get everything!”
    Keep your hard earned money for your Family.
    ————————————————————
    http://www.facebook.com/LocalPropertyTax

    18
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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:22 PM

    Almost everyone has less money…?

    14
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    Mute Damian Moran
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:26 PM

    Except minsters TD’S and top civil servants.

    24
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    Mute Bronagh Butler
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:32 PM

    I made sure to include “almost”!

    10
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    Mute Ronan C Gantly
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    Aug 1st 2013, 6:23 PM

    And our glorious leaders continue to pile on the taxes like confetti !

    13
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    Mute simonjblake
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    Aug 1st 2013, 5:21 PM

    State employees being the exception.

    9
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    Mute Jim Lenihan
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:03 PM

    allmost everyone.but not the ritch

    9
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    Mute Tom O Brien
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    Aug 1st 2013, 9:25 PM

    I think the gov. Will look at all the Galway races photos & think, they can all be squeezed for a few more quid.

    6
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    Mute mary cull
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:56 PM

    Toilet paper is a luxury in the States. If you’re buying with food stamps, which half the Country receives in one form or another the shops charge you for toothpaste also in monetary funds. So you can have a dirty ass & rotten teeth if you’re claiming welfare there.

    6
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    Mute Ciaran Harford
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    Aug 1st 2013, 5:53 PM

    Food stamps. Good idea Mary. Maybe children’s clothes stamps. Might make sure ppl are spending the money on what it’s intended for. Obviously you’d have to look at the bog roll / toothpaste scenario too.

    13
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    Mute Marilyn Maroney
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    Aug 1st 2013, 11:46 PM

    Mary, wrong-o

    2
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    Mute Alan Carroll
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:18 PM

    WOW ! Journo of the year award goes to …

    6
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    Mute BadDrivingIreland
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:23 PM

    Your joking, no way.

    5
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    Mute Vinny Mulhall
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    Aug 1st 2013, 7:46 PM

    We are not broke the so called elected by the minority government are handing away our wealth and resources .
    Check out this video on YouTube:

    http://youtu.be/76VOnzXQMsU

    5
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    Mute Liam H
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    Aug 1st 2013, 3:15 PM

    Such insight.
    Someone’s really on top of their game with this “report”

    4
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    Mute Luke O
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    Aug 1st 2013, 6:41 PM

    NO SHIT :|

    3
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    Mute Sean Patchworkveg
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 8:36 AM

    What???We have to spend less? Nobody told me. Uh oh! Seriously though we are being wiser. I think.?

    1
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    Mute Gavin Scott
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    Aug 1st 2013, 9:01 PM

    Well yeah…15 euro Cabernet/ jumilla has turned into screw cap bottles and 5 year old normal whisk(e)y….

    1
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    Mute Padriag O'Traged
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    Aug 1st 2013, 7:28 PM

    @Mark Owens; this is news. And obvious

    1
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