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AN UNEMPLOYED FATHER-of-two is considering joining the British army in order to escape from the daily financial struggle he faces to keep a roof over his family’s heads.
The 25-year-old, who has two young children, told TheJournal.ie that he had just €10 left last week to feed his family after paying his rent. Kevin* has previously worked in security and retail but said he lacks the qualifications to do a job that would support his young family.
“I had a great idea to start up a business last year but I was told that there was no [financial] support there for me so it was a dead end,” he said.
Having exhausted all of his options, he is now considering joining the British army, having already been accepted two years ago.
“I decided not to take it at the time, I suppose because I would have missed the kids and my fiancé, but now, after Christmas, I’m strongly thinking about it,” he said. “There are no opportunities here for me.”
We’re in debt with the youngest child’s creche but my partner insisted on sending her because obviously we want her to be learning and spending time with other kids, we’re in debt with the electricity company and they’ve put in a prepayed meter now. I had to borrow money from a friend last week but they don’t have it to give either, you know.
“I don’t want to get my legs blown off”
Kevin said he would have to be away from his family for at least six months for training if he did decide to enlist with the British army.
“They said they’s expect me to to spend six months in Afghanistan as well – I suppose they’re just telling me the truth, but I don’t want to get my legs blown off,” he explained.
I don’t know the last time me and my fiancée have had a night out. It’s our anniversary this week and I’d love to have a night out. The bottom line is that we have a lot going out and not enough coming in, we just can’t get ahead. I look at her crying every day, this week she’s worried sick about the rent and I can’t be looking at her like that.
Kevin receives €450 a week including rent allowance for himself, his partner and their two children and pays over €500 a month in rent. After rent, the family is left with €80 per person, per week to pay for food, bills, school and transportation costs for his eldest child, creche fees for the youngest child and other basic expenses. He said paying the €160 TV licence fee two weeks ago “crippled” them.
Constantly struggling
Jim Walsh of St Vincent De Paul said many families are in a similar situation, “constantly struggling and being forced to make choices”. “There has been a 100 per cent increase in people coming to us since 2009″, he said, adding that direct assistance is mainly for food, energy and education.
Walsh said that the government’s positive attitude about exiting the crisis is “not reflected in the people coming to St Vincent de Paul.
“The Budget has done nothing for people on social welfare, people on low income of even middle income – it certainly hasn’t improved the situation for anyone,” he said. “While the top-line figures might stay the same, the regulations and criteria are constantly changing so it’s more and more difficult for people to access payments.”
*The man who spoke to TheJournal.ie did not wish to be named.
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What a joker. He gets 2k a month of tax payers money, spends €500 on rent and is claiming to be destitute? Mind your own kid, shop in Aldi and go for a few drinks with your Missus once a month with the €1500 you have left. This guy is a perpetual victim in life, he should just get ‘Poor Me’ tattooed on his arm and be done with it.
Couldn’t agree more! He had a ‘great idea for a business’ and fell at the first hurdle. Either the idea wasn’t great or he’s the wrong guy to carry it out. Definitely a blamer for life this guy.
I so agree…..he brought two kids into the world and niw makes his lack of education and qualifications sound like our fault instead of his life choices. The army wont take him…..I wouldn’t want my sons or daughters fighting alongside him
Not unusual for a business to fail in its first year, Not unusual for a 2nd attempt to go to the wall either.
You get back up on the horse, that is the main key to life and especially running a small business.
Going off to Kabul to waste the natives is not going to fix his long term problem – his attitude.
‘my partner insisted on sending her’.. what is this about? Children only learn in a creche? My parents certainly couldn’t afford to send us to a creche when we were kids. Can’t understand for the life of me if both parents are not working why they send the child to a creche. I’m sure there are other avenues to socialise your children without the creche. After paying a mortage a decent paying job will not leave you with much more than €450 a week.
Why become a soldier if his heart’s not in it? I wouldn’t fancy having him alongside me in Afghanistan.
He’d have a job getting in by the sounds of him. Even if he did, by the time he got though training the UK will have very few troops in Afghanistan.
Why do you think that Rodrigo? I’m not having a go at you but do disagree. Maybe you can explain your thoughts?
Personally, I think his heart is in the right place. He wants to live to provide for his family but is willing to risk it in a war half way around the world to do so. Any soldier that isn’t thinking about the dangers a job will entail can’t be too smart, right?
I see a guy showing bravery and a commitment to those he cares about. Are these not qualities you want in somebody serving alongside you?
A soldier who’s hearts not in it ends up a dead solider.
Its not a ‘real’ story, this man doesn’t exist.
So Angela … you don’t believe this story – but drop all the sideshows – do u think there are people wit 1500 a month spending money?
So coming back in a box at 26 or as a shell shocked wreck after 6 months in the desert where you get less than minimum wage or the dole is a good thing for your family.?
Start your own business. Go to McDonalds and work you way up to Manager. Anything makes more sense.
Something very wrong with this person if they think this is a serious option for a grown man.
Seanie I have to agree with you!
Thats 320 eur a week to live on and pay bills. Don’t quite understand his dilemna. Better budgetting comes to mind.
Odd. My rent is €650, no rent allowance and have less than him per week and we manage.
He says they’re in debt so most likely his cash is going to service that but the article doesn’t really go into it. I’d consider having €450 a week to be fairly well off.
TV? I’ve been unemployed since March but times were tough even before that. The first thing to go was the tv. I’ve been without it for about three years now. This may shock some people but, television is not a life necessity. As long as you have a roof and food, you’re better off than so many others. Anything beyond that is a bonus. This guy and his partner need to seriously stop moaning and get their priorities in order. And why can’t she work to pitch in?
So he’s 25 years of age, has no qualifications, but yet goes and creates 2 human beings whom are dependant on him for survival… I know I’ll get red thumbed, but what a muppet. Get an education so that if and when you decide to have children, you have the ability to support them. I only pity his children.
I only wish more people were of this opinion in Ireland. Thanks for restoring faith I’m humanity.
Why does he have crèche fees if he’s unemployed? There’s a few bob saved straight away.
Save €120 a week by not having your in a crèche and pay your TV licence monthly and pay a visit to MABs and stop feeling sorry for yourself
# child
Don’t pay TV license…… Period
Off topic and all the that, but did you perchance get the giraffe riddle wrong? Awww man :)
Period STILL bothering you, Criminal?
(Cue opening notes of ‘It’s a Man’s World’)
Eyes wide shut
Hahaha, I was thinking the exact same thing Keith, when I saw his Giraffe profile pic. ;)
And get brought to court and then have to pay for your license anyway along with a hefty fine !!
couldnt understand the figures and numbers on this one…to be honest and ur right pay ur tv monthly and you dont have that lob to fork out all in one go…sounds like he does need to think his finances more to suit his needs and current circumstances. I grew up with my own dad away in the army all the time, and believe me its no way to be leaving a small child worried if their dad will ever come home…and when they are home…sometimes the trauma of that is worse…army is not the solution..
€450 a week for sitting at home on his ass all day? I work all day and don’t make that much. Can he not mind his own kids in that case? Why doesn’t he apply for the Garda jobs coming up, or is that too dangerous for our poor hero aswell.
Don’t forget the rent allowance
Agreed Gnik. I know a young man who has stated his own business, and after his costs and staff wages, he doesn’t even have minimum wage.€450 for doing fcuk all. No wonder this country’s in the pan.
He’s “thinking” about joining the British Army. This is news? There are people this country thinking about committing suicide because of the financial situation in which they find themselves. The headline for the article should read “Unemployed man spends two years considering job offer, might take it up next January”.
Maybe the Journal were hoping for the usual anti British diatribe that such topics sometimes get, but thankfully so far most people are more concerned about this man’s obvious me feiner attitude.
Worse still its an Exclusive for christs sake.
Doesn’t quite make sense this article. He will risk getting his legs blown off even though he has a house and enough food to survive on. Barely credible.
Him and wifey sound like they are lazy.. he’s considering getting a job while she sends the kid to creche. What do they both do when the kid is in creche.
make another kid?
The amounts of money quoted aren’t bad at all….a lot more than minimum wage level ! Drop the crèche in favour of adult education for a start.
Not all of course, but many people on social welfare expect to have means to keep cars, foreign holidays, creche, sky sports etc.. It is just not possible. There are lots of people on welfare in a better positon than those working.
A friend of mine uses his college grant to buy games and a new TV every year. He lives at home.
80euro per person wouldn’t i love that i work and i wouldn’t have anything near that to live more often than not i have 50euro after bills mortgage child care and before i put a bit of food on Tim table!
that 80 euro pays for his bills and childcare and food
Go join the British army then and stop moaning about it.
I’m not sure how he’s gonna make much more from the British army, their pay is crap from what I hear
Look, I’ve a lot of sympathy for the man but he doesn’t need to be paying for child care, that’s just daft when he’s unemployed.
If you are on rent allowance you do not pay €450 in rent yourself, you pay €29.80 a week towards it. If he is on all these payments and has a medical card he can avail of a free crèche place? Basically it’s about being smart with the €450 he gets a week(more than people have)
A crèche? And he’s unemployed???
Where did you hear that about rent allowence?! Unless there’s been a big change in the last few years that I missed, rent allowence is nowhere near that!
Yes go murder innocent women and children in an illegal war in the name of the British queen
He has a background in security and retail, both of those areas are in decline and can pay a low flat rate, any attempts to make a living for himself have not been succesful, from what I got from this article is that he doesn’t want to be a drain on society by claiming the dole.
The other thing is that the only longterm way of supporting his family is joining the British army, where he is guaranteed a wage, potential for further education or an apprenticeship, and at the end of his service a pension, and if he dies his fiance recieves a benefit too.
Not many shop jobs or security jobs can provide that, instead he has to claim benefit… Sadly Its not like the Irish contingent is recruiting
Rent allowance can be as high as €650 a month.
Ah will ya give it a rest Tony. Innocents my hole.
A job’s a job. Go for it.
If he’s not working, why does he need childcare? If he wants his children to mix with others, there are parks, playgrounds and the like!! Cop on and cut down on the non-essential rubbish of keeping up with the joneses
Yet (not all) but many Polish people still come here with little spoken English and prosper in jobs and salaries that the Irish just won’t take.
Maybe it’s time to arrange a few educational excursions for Irish people to Poland ,
it might give them a bit of humility and gratitude for what they have.
See them grow their own vegetables.
See them bake their own bread.
Sew their damaged clothes.
Etc..
I know our country has been raped by criminal banksters with the help of a government of wasters.
But it doesn’t give us an excuse to waste our own money.
Eric, what I got from this article is that somebody who could look after their child at home because they are unemployed is complaining of financial hardship, part of which is being behind paying the creche. Sent because his partner wants the child learning and mixing with other kids. I am amazed that so many of us are coping in life seeing as we were looked after at home by our parents who couldn’t afford a creche and had to entertain ourselves. I know nobody who would be sending a child to creche while out of work, its insane. You cut your clothe to measure, he obviously hasn’t done that. I genuiniely feel for people where there is hardship, this isn’t one of these cases.
This site has become a parody of itself.
This is news?
An exclusive only because nobody else would publish this as a newsworthy story…
Pleads poverty, sends child to crèche (€200+ per week?) and publishes this fact on the journal?!!
The Irish army have recruited 400 in the last 7 months !
How is a civilian child not innocent ?
This is a nonsense comment
30 a week actually
You forgot about the oil Tony, the oil. Now take your tablet and it will be all ok.
If both are at home I’d cut the crèche ….
He doesn’t need child care for a start
You dont get free creche when unemployed, there is a subvention rate which is (aprox!) €95 reduced from the full rate of weekly creche fees. Still an unnecessary expense though.
This article does genuinely impoverished people no good at all.
He is better off than me if I am reading it right. €80 per person, per week. At 4 people that’s €240 per week after rent,
He’s is better off than many of us in full time employment going by those figures.
And don’t forget child benefit split 4 ways is an extra €60 per head….
Is it real though?
When i was at school €80×4= €320 now feel free to correct me if maths has changed in last few years!
€1800 a month and he’s struggling, give me a break !
This article is a joke. Child in crèche ? 450 per week. I mean seriously hardly the worse scenario I’ve heard in today world. 1. Take child out of crèche. 2. Sit down and budget. 3. Get yourself out there and search high and low for a job . Although if your getting 450 a week to do nothing why would you bother ????? Many full time jobs pay less than this and if employed you would lose many benefits eg back to school allowance, medical benefits…… Clearly there is a bigger picture here don’t you think ????? And as for blow you legs off a tad dramatic !
Bottom line this country cannot afford to take care of you for many reasons we wont go into now, therefore it is up to each individual to learn to fend for themselves weither it be shop in aldi, pay bills monthly, reduce social activities the list goes on.
Now I have to go to work. I have 2 jobs and my husband works 6 days a week. Two children and my dad lives with us. So pooooooooor meeeeeeeee eh !
Why is this news? Lots of Irish people have joined the British Army. It’s a job after all, one that pays very well and provides excellent training.
Just a job eh.
I was talking to an Irish Guards soldier just before he went to Afghanistan. He told me that he used to be a bouncer in a Limerick nightclub but had joined the British Army because it was less dangerous!
It pays very well. How the hell do you work that out. He’ll be on significantly less than his current income for years. If you are 18 and from a sink estate and want to get rid of some anger then it makes sense but when you have children then it is not a job that is advisable or affordable.
If he moved them over to England and had social housing there then it might pay
So if he enlists in the British army, it’s an automatic sentence to Afghanistan to have your legs blown off. A tad sensationalist, no? People have good careers in the army.
All this while pushing the blame on to somebody else. Who’s fault was it that he has two kids that he feels he can’t support? What next, an article moaning about the effectiveness of contraception? I can’t afford my crèche fees so therefore I must risk my life and it’s always somebody else’s fault. Moan moan bleedin’ moan.
Ah heayorr, it’s too early on a bank holiday for this…
Whose*
If he joined the B.A he’d be at risk of having his legs blown off as much in Ireland.
The pay is better in McDonalds and he gets to have a lunch and be there for his family in the evening time.
Sounds like a spoof story. What kind of looper joins a foreign army where he will be on SFA money and at significant risk of physical or mental injury.
Bad dad.
His current benefits from the State actually are higher than what he’d get in pay from the British Army – http://www.army.mod.uk/join/20097.aspx
He gets €450/week vs £340/week in the army AFTER training.
Before tax
David, if living in barracks as he would be initially he doesn’t pay for own food any rent etc he would also after training be liable for an Army married quarter ( subsidised, low rent) so financially if sensible
he would be better off. Also depending on trade he might get more.
TBH I don’t think the army would take him even if he was accepted 2 years ago..
As other comments have said though he needs to rethink his budget especially the crèche.
ha ha, this article backfired.
Big Time. Hope he’s reading it!
Seriously don’t get the creche? Plenty of children don’t go to creche. There are many people working out there who have family minding children or have paid childcarers. Wats wrong with sending child to playschool a few mornings of the week or joining a local playgroup? To me it sounds like trying to justify not minding their own child when both are at home all day.
If you can send a child to creche on SW, then either SW is too much, or you are making a seriously bad financial decision. (Think we all know the answer to that one).
Crèche is a waste of money. If both of u are at home, spend that time educating your kid instead! Use saved money to further your own skills!
BTW, join the British Army and you will see a cut in what you get on SW by 50%!!!
This story does nothing to demonstrate the plight of much more needy people on SW, rather demonstrates how people misuse SW payments.
If he had a job offer for the last two years why was he still allowed to draw social welfare?
Why aren’t social welfare sending him on retrain corses?? I know they do that.. And they find you a job too..
Glad this article is getting the response it deserves. Plenty of good solutions posted here. Sounds like this guy is just another moaner and whinger, what exactly does he an his partner do all day? Does he want a “night out” hand out from the tax payer aswell?. Absolute leech on society.
Why doesn’t he bin his tv? He’d save money in electricity, tv licence, and the brain cells he’s probably killing watching Jeremy Kyle. Buy a book called “common sense for dummies”, and take his kid out of crèche.
I’m starting to think the kid is better off in the crèche than staying home with those parents…
Man must get job to support his family.
The horror of it. Can the state not give this family more money or give me a nice cushy job on his door step.
This fella a joke
And he had an idea for a new business but he wanted the state to pay for that as well. !
Some people sense of entitlement is crazy
Yes I totally agree that does my head in too
Your prob right angela but there’s lots of people out there who are getting money left right and centre and arnt working but still moan about not having enough
So if we go along the lines that this man does not exist then what is the true purpose of this article?
Recruitment drive for cannon fodder for the BA?
Or maybe he was looking for a business startup grant & was more than likely rejected from the bank & went on to apply for microfinance loan through the governments microenterprise fund. Or more than likely he was rejected at every avenue due to a poor business plan. Either way anyone starting a business will look into ALL avenues of securing finance, including government assistance, as we all know business startups, if successful will lead to job creation. In this instance “sense of entitlement” really bugs me.
Pauly – You are talking s*ite!
No where in the article does it say that he wanted the state to pay, what it does say & to remind the 160 people whe green thumbed you,
“I had a great idea to start up a business last year but I was told that there was no [financial] support there for me so it was a dead end,
Very possible, but it’s based on many a true story minus the army part. Kevin* is 10 a penny out there.
Jasus I considered selling my kidney and pole dancing for few quid……write an article when he does?
There is a call centre in Perth that might have you back :)
Actually I don’t think they would! Lol I don’t think I’m allowed back in Australia full stop
Maybe Australia is out but is the pole dancing still an option??
This guy ain’t getting much support on here today. Wait till about midday when the rest of the unemployed community get out of bed, then he’ll get the compassion he feels he’s entitled too.
Sure of course he doesn’t want to be named, is it really a true story, don’t think so, figures don’t add up
This is an ‘Exclusive’ article??? Seriously? Unemployed man is thinking of joining the British Army? So fcuking what…
Must be a slow news day haha
Feckin eejit needs to cop on to himself, sendin kid to crèche wen he unemployed while crying poverty
Would love to know are they both smokers ?? What are they spending money on ? i wish we had that much a week for free from tax payers money for sitting on my arse and had a medical card. We both work and can’t afford childcare. We work different hrs to mind own kids so don’t see each other. That’s just life . A lot of friends husbands work away mon to fri. New generation of Irish kids who see their dad 2 days a week. Think if article is true your man is pathetic – partner -”insists” on creche . join a toddlers group or the library and educate your own child . I suppose his kids will have iPads for christmas so they don’t feel left out – paid for by us. Needless to say mine will not.
This should be good. Expect the following
“80 quid a week for doing nothing? I’d love that”
“crèche is a luxury”
“Have you forgotten what the British army did” (followed by SF side thread)
“Enda is a traitor”
7 mentions of bankers
5 mentions of household charge
197 uses of the phrase “whilst the elite”
Ha, quality! This comment should be at the top of all the comment sections on the journal as a legend of sorts.
And a Partridge in a pear treeeeeeeeee!
…too early??
Eh why not try the Irish army???,there is still recruitment in parts of the country.strange he highlights I don’t want to get my legs blown off?.this article is pants!
I was just thinking that myself, the pay is similar enough, he would be closer to home during training and the Irish Army serves overseas as well if he is craving some adventure, with a lower risk of loosing limbs
Get off your backside and support your family with the job you’ve been offered 2 year’s ago. Obviously the tv licence was very important to you as you left yourself broke paying it! Many people work in jobs they don’t particularly like to put food on the table. You were man enough to create the children now provide for them instead of using the money from the taxes I pay
They should look after there child and stop sitting around watching sky and smoking all day
Leave her join the army if she insists on the child going to crèche..I’m in a full time job and he seems financially better off than me living on benefits..he’s either a simpleton or she is if they can’t figure out they can’t afford the crèche by now..going to Afghanistan to pay crèche fees ffs
Lisa. I’m pretty sure by minding your own child would make a significant change in finances. I do have empathy for those who struggle. But the article smells of bullshit. Many people work oversees to support family. My own father worked wherever the work was. I myself was self employed and when it went bust I went back to college to change my cateer. It’s not easy being a full time parent of two and full time student. Travelling two hours everyday 70 euro petrol a week and eating egg and chips three times a week. We cut our cloth to fit our measure.the journal should do an article on me ffs.
So what is he looking for here? More handouts? Pity he didn’t think about his ability to provide for kids before having two of them
There are many people in dire straits but this is not one of them. Did he include children’s allowance as well. Also, comparing monthly rent with weekly allowance is not the way to go. Some months have five pay days of €450 while the monthly rent remains constant. If Kevin joins the British Army and sits in his tent all day, not even going to the mess for a beer or buy a stamp to write a letter home his wages for the first year will be £14, 000 Stg p.a. He is currently getting €23, 4000 p.a. without risk of ending up as road kill for the crows in Afghanistan so your story in this case is a damp squib.
Plus other allowances for children, medical card perhaps. He would need to earn about 40k a year to receive this.
Thought I guess the money is for himself snd partner.
This is just a hangover from the Celtic tiger, get up off your arse and get a job be it in the British army or wherever. Nobody’s going to do it for you.
I think this guy needs to visit a psychiatrist. He is considering combat in Afghanistan to pay for the crèche. Cut out the crèche , read to your child and save hundreds per month. I’m sorry but this is a non story from an attention seeker.
This article stinks of BS. It sounds like a case of pity me….”I’m so desperate I will go and fight for the British army.”
He’s trying to tug on those patriotic Irish heart strings and make it out to be so desperate that he would fight for the “enemy”
I really hope you don’t get into the army if you are serious. With your attitude, you will more of a danger than a good squadmate.
Do what others have suggested….ditch the creche and raise your kids if yourself if you’re unemployed.
Talk to someone from Manchester and see the individuals that they take.
If you enlist then you need to have social housing at home or you will not survive.
@Seanie Bull.
And Irish defence forces pay is better than British army……
Is this for real?? 1800 plus 260 children’s allowance. Over 2 grand. Doesn’t have work travel costs etc.. Basically 1500 p/m to live on. And he just sits at home and sends his kids to crèche. Diddums.
When i lost my job i was in a real bad situation… My rent was €500 per month and i had signed a contract so i couldn’t leave… Because my rent was so high i wasn’t entitled to rent allowance so i had to soilder on… I struggled most times to pay my rent n €188.00 and i also had to pay other bills as it was shared accomodation… I couldn’t pay what i owed on my credit card bill so they cancelled my bank card and threathned to freeze my account… I still owe €300 to esb. I had no choice but to cancel my health insurance as i couldnt afford and a night out was non existand let alone retail therapy… The cost of my rent was way to high causing me to run in to debt… I now work 20 hours a week and the odd time i manage to pick up a few hours cleaning. As my contract has sense expired i moved to a cheaper place and am starting to slowley pay off my debts… While i do feel sorry for this man the whole idea of keeping a child in creche when one cannot afford it is insane… Surely they could teach the child at home like we were in our days as there was no such thing as playschool or creche…… I know security is unsociable hours and flat pay but at the end of the day a jobs a job… Beggers cant be choosers in times like these…
Fair play to you Veronica for getting back on your feet. It’s not easy for people out there who lise their jobs and are really struggling.. This chancer has little idea of hardship by the sound of it.
Hahahahaha cry me a river! 2000k free every month from the tax payer and he turned down a job 2 years ago. Learn to budget ya tit. This guy won’t last 5 mins in the army. No need to worry about getting your legs blown off, more likely he’s gonna get a size 12 boot in the hole back onto the ferry. Disgrace of a man.
He must be the first person in the country thinking of doing this.. Well done the journal on this breaking story
I never realised people were thinking of leaving their country in search for work
If he lacks qualifications, why doesn’t he go back and do a course!
His mrs won’t let him.
Sad state of affairs tbh, many have ‘taken the Saxon shilling’, my uncle was one. More will do it and risk their lives in the process, all because this country is in the toilet. Friend of mines husband has joined the British army and is on his 2nd tour already, but it’s the only way keep their head above water.
So better send Daddy to Afghanistan so that little darling can go to creche? Bullsh…t.
Much better to have dad around and just not do thr creche.
More likely but equally damaging than losing his legs is PTSD.
The way I see it, he’s trying to find away out of his families situation.
Agreed though, if you can’t afford a creche don’t break yourself financially trying to send your child to one, and spend time with the child at home, especially if you are unemployed.
Sorry, but it’s mainly dumbos or thrill seekers who join any army. Is Britain being attacked by anyone? No, but their army is usually invading someone else. Enough Irish mercenaries followed that path in the past so don’t see the huge need for any Irishman to follow it now.
There are other jobs in England people could do. Joining the army is about their own desire to feel important with a gun in their hand.
You’d change your tune pretty quick Alan if the enemy was at the gates.
I think the title ” Irish man considers joining British army” is designed to make it
sensational. If it was ” Irish man considers joining Irish army”, nobody would
bother to read it..
It was probably easier and more pc than saying “man wants to kill camel jockeys in a desert for minimum wage”.
Tough crowd!
Yes it’s criminal, things are so bad here that some people are actually considering working for a living. My prayers are with you!!!!!!!!!
My Husband works full time and this guy has more left than we do. 602 euro per week with a 1690 mortgage per month. On top of all the usual bills food insurances etc., we do not send our middle child to crèche we just wud not have the money.
Ah sure your hardly that bad?
I have two university qualifications, work a full-time, stressful job and that clown has more money than me! My friend used to volunteer with SVP but she got fed up with people looking for handouts when they had massive TVs, good cars, and had spent all their food money on expensive takeaways. There are genuinely poor people in this country but there are also thousands just like this eejit, with an over-inflated sense of entitlement and a whinging attitude.
€450 a week? There are many many hard working people out there who do not have that type of money in their hands after tax!
A lot of Irish join the British army because its easier to into than the Irish army and your more likely to see “action” as opposed to just peacekeeping duties. Not my cup of tea but each to their own. TBH if you’re thinking of joining a foreign army as a career move the USA pay much better and have better equipment.
Not true, necessarily. Unless you are going to be a pilot or something the soldiers in the Irish army and British army are better equipped. The pay is also much worse in the US army.. Much worse.
British army are worse equipped than the Yanks. Irish army are very hard to get into and don’t fight in any wars.
Have to admit I don’t understand the creche at all. What about other bills and services. And shopping can be done cheaply in aldi/lidl. If you have children it really should be your responsibility to look after them. Sounds like he should do a fas course or try to get re skilled. I’m employed and trying to stay skilled. Nothing comes for free. People shouldn’t be left behind and its sad people have little options but this guy needs a swift kick of common sense
If he moved to rural part houses to rent for 350 and less and to be honest if parents at home the young kid could learn from all man and dad can teach and there’s also a free year in crèche .if I had 450 every week at my game I’d consider it that Id be living cushy
I am at a loss… Both him and his partner are unemployed and yet they send their youngest child to creche? Why not join local play groups and spend time with their child themselves? Also, €450 a week to pay just €500 a month in rent; that is pretty good going considering neither work. Most people who have a full time job would have little more if not significantly less than him a month to spend after paying the rent/mortgage. I do not see how this is news and it does absolutely nothing to highlight the plight of genuine people who are trying their best to support their families on much less government support than this guy. Also, why does he need a TV license? Embrace not watching TV and look at other ways to save money. Maybe walk/cycle your second child to school or take public transport where possible?
I have great sympathy for those who are trying their best to get through the recession and are finding that government schemes to help people get back on their feet are a joke, but I think this story just highlights what is wrong with the welfare system that this guy can complain so much about having more than most people and he does nothing for it! I think you have just managed to annoy people on a Monday morning – well done!
To be perfectly honest I think this couple could do with a reality check. I am also inclined to believe that writer is not being honest about his expenditure etc.Have they tried budgeting,real budgeting.He should wake up and smell the roses….
Man joins foreign army. Man receives payment for service in foreign army. Man receives guaranteed pension from army of foreign country after retirement. Man offered training opportunities as he has neglected to engage in any training prior to joining foreign army. Man has good stable income and is paid whilst still training. Man notes that he is in army and that armies engage in warfare/peacekeeping, hence better pay and conditions. Man in quandary and looking for sympathy from Journal readers.
My thoughts for man: get off your behind, stop moaning. If you think you can stick it, go, but if you can’t, don’t, as you’ll be a hindrance to everyone else. You say you have no training or skills. I think it is generous of the British Army to offer you work, since you obviously have little other than your presence up offer them.
I’m a bit stunned at the reactions to this story. We’re all struggling, and that is a story of one family struggling. I don’t understand the crèche bit either tbh but even if they stop that, they’re still hardly going to be well off. Those of you commenting on him “sitting on his a**”? He’s considering joining the British army in desperation for goodness sake, that’s hardly someone who doesn’t want to work. We could all look at other peoples lives and say “well if you do that….” Not so easy when you’re living with it and suddenly a school trip comes up or your child rips their shoes. We should be sticking together not slating someone else because we’d do something different. Any member of our government would be sitting back grinning at these comments today, delighted that people will criticise each other rather than those who have left us all trying to get by.
we pay 250 quid a week in childcare because both of us work. if one of us didn’t work then we’d cut that 13000 a year out of our budget straight away!
The comments are from people who are broke because half their wage goes to taxes to pay for people like ‘toy solider boy’ and his flimsy half arsed approach to life!
I don’t mind putting into the pot but don’t say it’s not enough when lots of people can’t celebrate an anniversary and make do with a candle lit dinner and a bottle of Aldi wine!
Well said Cliona. It’s our anniversary today 7 years married. Can we go out? uv got to be joking. We bought a tesco Indian meal for two and a cheap bottle of tesco cava. A night out is unheard of for lots of couples these days.
Yeah and I totally get that, but does that make it ok? None of us should be living as we are and none of us caused it. Slating someone for putting it into words isn’t the way to be either. We applaud those who attend anti austerity marches, aren’t they pretty much saying the same thing?
@lisa, the issue is the whining approach about how tough it is when it seems common sense would leave things a lot better for the family. It might still not be easy but he is in fairness taking in what many families like that take in in a wage and survive on.
Ur right we shouldn’t have to live like this. But u fortunately, due to whatever the reason beit bankers and government these are the times we live in and we all need to tighten our belts. Paying for a crèche because the child needs to mix is not a necessary expenditure. Have some play dates etc like I do. When the child is 3/4 she/he will have a free year of part time crèche. Believe me, my family know all about tightening belts and they just cannot b tightened anymore. Pensions etc have been cancelled in order to put food on the table. It is a joke but seriously some people need to prioritise. A crèche is not a priority. Wud like also to add that when I have all my house work done I sit down with middle child and do creative arts and crafts etc abc 123. She just loves it.
I already said the crèche bit baffles me, but as someone who also works full time but know how hard it was finding a job after losing mine in 2010, I can’t help but sympathise a bit. I applied for absolutely everything, no snobbery or “oh I wouldn’t work there” it’s so tough and maybe I’m just a softy for a sob story but there were parts of his story that could have been my family a year ago.
Exactly, I take home €400 a month less than him. Granted no kids to support, I’m seriously beginning to wonder why I work a 45hr wk when I have less disposable income than him!
The difference is that you got up and did something about it. This lad is just a whinger who doesn’t know how lucky he is.
Sad to say but our generation has had it far far too easy. ‘Being forced to make choices’. How sad!
Wow – shock horror.
That’s ok, he needs the money.
daddy day care
Birth control, job, things he missed
Apply for fair city no expierance necessary
What joke just sounds like their lazy watch your own kids and use that money to go to college. His sound better off than some people I know that work reading this makes me little mad
Kevin wont be the first or the last … terrible that he has to put himself in this position and potentially fight in somebody elses far off war. Hopefully he will find something suitable here and not have to leave his young family.
F off
Berties children. The policies of the great socialist coming home to roost. The rent allowance is probably the biggest incentive he gave to his Galway Tent contributors.
I think the initiative by Joan Burton to produce a P60 type document for social is an excellent idea. Welfare culture needs to be broken and this will show true cost of individuals to the taxpayer.
I am bewildered at how this is news. What is wrong with joining an army? It is respectable decent work. This plays into the hands of the petty nationalists of Sinn Fein and their refusal to accept that Northern Ireland and will continue to exist. There is nothing any more wrong with joining the British Army, US Army, Canadian Army, French Army, whatever army. Get a grip.
You would swear from the tone of the article he was about to embark on a career as a rent boy in the Phoenix Park.
€80 each per week left over?? I would be very lucky to have €80 left between the 4 of us each week, and we are a working family, jaysus If only I didn’t have a mortgage I would give up work for good….. That’s a good living he has there….
What a plank. won’t even get that much in the army and ten you have to pay to go over there . You sound like a moaner. Hope you enjoy your 7 minutes in the army before you ask to be allowed out.
In any casethis article is written so that everyone says OMG 450€ down with this sort of thing !
What bull, I can’t believe journal.ie even have this as news, what a joke, we all want a night out, you put money aside until you have enough saved after you pay the bills & buy food.
O and because he rents he hasn’t any property tax to pay, or the water rates will be paid by the landlord, we all have to pay the tv licence, try buying the stamps once a weeks instead of paying it all at once, a little common sense must prevail in these times mate. And paying €500 a month is nothing try €1,600 a month mortgage mate, get a grip on reality and join the British Army if you want at least my taxes won’t go towards funding you any more
This guy earns more on the dole per week than I do as a permanent member in the Irish Defence Forces. Cut out the crèche and mind your own childern, organise play dates with neighbours to encourage social development in your child. Theres plenty of jobs out there, the question is will you do them. The government makes it too easy for people to say ‘sure why would I bother’.
The tv licence can be paid monthly by direct debit. You don’t have to pay it all in one go. There are no free childcare places, unless your availing of the free preschool year (ecce). There are subsidised places if you are in receipt of particular social welfare payments and have a medical card (ccs).
When it to family one will do anything to survive. In the Ireland of today it is becoming re difficult to make ends meet.So no one can really judge this man. f that is what it tales to survive s be it.
Are you still im primary school???
Stop drinking its morning time!
I see I got a big thumbs down . There are a lot of Irish People working in Britain and are delighted to have a job there. So this is no different. We have to leave politics out of it.I suppose I will get many thumbs down for this comment too.
@Francis, there are a lot of people in the UK including my son and I thank them for giving him a job and experience after four years studying, something he couldn’t get here. There are four people in this house and three have been ‘let go’ (no redundancy payments) in last four years. This country is very sick, I’d be gone if I were younger.
That is my point. There are many people having to go to Britain and else ware for work. I think the reason may comments are vague here is because he is thinking of joining the British army. None of us are perfect.
Get
He has family and he is thinking about going to join an army in the midst of a war in a country he probably cannot find on a map and he is thinking about doing this for less money than he is currently on and less money than he would get cleaning bathrooms in a hotel.
The man should be let nowhere near a loaded gun.
You underestimate life in the British Army. It’s a right ol’ craic going to foreign countries to maim and kill innocent families and you get paid to do it.
The partner could stop feeling sorry for herself and go job hunting too.
Come on! Dont send your child to a creche. Pay your tv licence monthly, it is €13.33
My husband and I work and we still don’t send our daughter to a creche because it is too expensive. Also get your electricity and gas with the same company they usually give a discount.
Kevin. Go for it. I joined and went onwards and upwards. Inf. Armour then Engineer.
I joined as a Private/ Ranger
James Duffy. M.Sc. (UCD)
I know an Irishman that is thinking of becoming a postman.
Poor thing, he shouldn’t have to do that……
Old news, my dad joined the British army in 1952 to support his family of 6 kids. There wasn,t the same level of welfare then. He wasnt the only proud Irish man to either
Breaking News. Man is so disillusioned with claim culture that he is actually contemplating getting a job!!!!!!
Why the British Army, what have they done to deserve him?
A good kick up the arse springs to mind, someone who sounds this lazy would’nt hack it in the army. BTW a privates wage in the British army is a lot less than €500 a week!!
I really don’t understand the idea of sending a kid to a creche under these circumstances. There are alternatives.
What bothers me most about this article is that I can empathise with anyone who feels that they can kick off a business but can see no support or path to doing so.
It was the same in the 80s my dad told my brother, find a job or join the army, so he went to England to work as did many others.. But I don’t understand why isn’t he getting rent allowance? And why is he paying crèche fees?
I think it’s a bit extreme joining the British army but we don’t know the lads situation… Best of luck what ever he decides to do..
Wouldn’t blame him…
The crèche thing is ridiculous, there are community crèches and pre schools that cost €15 or €20 a week or mother and toddler groups that cost as little as €2.
It seems like a rather drastic move given that a private soldier is only going to be on about £18k and the army is most certainly not a route out of poverty.
Well he wouldn’t be the first the Irishman to join the British army out of poverty that’s for sure. That said I don’t think the guy is serious and even if he was he wouldn’t automatically pass all the criteria to make it. The training would also be a test of how much he actually wants to do it. The money is not great in the British army either,
new recruits in training start on around £14,300 a year. On completion of training this rises to around £17,700 a year, depending on your job role. Private soldiers start on around £17,700 a year. Corporals can earn from £26,700 a year.There are extra allowances, for example whilst serving overseas. You may also get subsidised food and accommodation. Housing for married soldiers is also subsidised to help soldiers maintain a family life throughout their careers. You may also receive extra pay if you work in specialist roles like parachutist. The British forces have always had a large contingent of Irish men and women serving in it’s ranks and despite the cuts in spending etc it does offer many opportunities in trades and other roles maybe not easily available in the Irish army, I live close to a REME barracks and there are quite a few young Irish lads in there getting trained up to be mechanical and electrical engineers, they also have to take part in the regular army exercises and they would be expected to serve overseas in war zones if need be but then if you join an army like the British army you would expect that to be the case, they do like to get involved in conflicts although I sense that is changing as they downsize and reappraise their role in the world. Also they are pulling out of Afghanistan by 2015. Please don’t take this as a recruitment ad for the British armed forces.
don’t worry at 14k a year (which they would have been paying 10 yrs ago) to become a jittery stressed alcoholic, noone would take it as a recruitment drive!
Ed, all 100% correct. Personally from his wingeing I don’t think he’d get past basic training.
Kevin. Can I suggest u go speak to mabs. There are ways out of your situation if you get the correct advice. There is also the svdp who can help in extreme cases. I have been in your situation. I know what that feels like. Your daughter wouldnt suffer if you took her out of her creche. It would save you 120 a month. Enough to pay for your bins and tv licence. Remember that crime can lead to prison and then your kids won’t get to see you. You may need some budgetting advice or similar. For example…. Shopping in second hand stores for clothes. I do it. Cutting down on shopping or being savvy when shopping. Creating a meal from scratch rather than using ready made. A bag of potatoes goes a long long way with Few tins beans etc when your broke and hungry. Cross care and similar organisations offer meals to all not just those who can’t afford . Nobody knows if you can’t afford the food so no stigma is attached. My first child never went to creche. I played with her during the day. Took her to the park. Spent time colouring abd making art and craft stuff. She grew up normal. I wish you well and hope you find some solution to your current situation.
I feel sorry for this guy but going to join the British army and training in Afghanistan.. He is commeting suicide for sure..!!! I being a foreigner living in this country worked part time paid €10,000 a year to DIT college and i made it through very well now leading a successful career..He just need to work harder and there are plenty jobs here..!!
He seriously needs to learn how to budget. I get less than that a week and my rent is €150 a week plus shopping, a loan,bills and can afford to send my fella to nursery 2 mornings and most of the time I have money left over for bits and pieces during the week…
That is just bad money management,, sounds like he wouldn’t last 2 mins in the army ,, dry ur eyes and get on with it like the rest of us ,,
pull your child out of creche stupid you canr afford it
I don’t get this guys problem. After paying 150 rent for the week, myself and my partner with our two kids stil have roughly 310 left, no rent allowance, for shopping and bills, tv petrol etc. We still manage to save a few quid. I still manage the pub once a week, we still manage to go out together once a month. We never want for anything as we budget properly. Obviously I’d prefer to have a little more money, who doesn’t??!! But I stil manage to have coal, petrol, oil in the tank for the radiator. And this is me WITH a job! He should count himself lucky he can still lay in bed while his kid goes off to creche everyone, though for the life of me I can’t understand why. We bring my kids to a kids fun place once a week for 7 euro! Plenty of kids to play with there
How come foreigners are allowed join the British Army? I assumed you’d have to be a citizen of a country in order to be allowed join their armed forces.
True for most nations exceptions being Ireland and Commonwealth.
English people and the UK armed forces don’t class Irish people as foreigners .If the jocks vote for independence next year I still wouldn’t class them as a foreigner.
You think the English are dumb enough to get paid near minimum wage and become alcoholics and junkies in order to fight wars for haliburton and then find their pensions have been wiped out in 30 years time because the govt gambled it on ‘derivatives’ ?
your bang on tiger i would prefer to listen on how the political classes destroyed ireland and the agencies of the state who are meant to be investigating the criminals responsible for this have now been taken over by these criminals and are now covering up .
ireland
well ya do what ya have to do
pay scale for Irish army Pay Scale wef 01/01/11 taken for Defense forces website
Private, Grade 1/Seaman Third Classes
€334.04
Private, 2 Star/Seaman, Second Class
€360.00
Private, 3 Star/Seaman, First Class
1st Year of Service €360.00
2nd Year of Service €385.00
3rd Year of Service €385.00
4th Year of Service €410.00
5th Year of Service €410.00
6th Year of Service €440.00
7th Year of Service €470.00
8th Year of Service €498.42
9th Year of Service €498.42
hes getting more than a Recruit in the army and a trained soldier with 6 years service.
What exactly is the problem? The fact that the guy is taking a hard job? Or the fact that it’s with the British army?
He hasn’t said he is taking anything. He’s seriously considering it. Which means he won’t take it. MABS and a bit of cop on with regard to bills ( budget the tv licence, put some money away for the rent the weeks he doesn’t have to pay it so that he isn’t paying it all out of one weeks income, take the child out of the crèche, ya know, stuff most people do to ease large payments in one go ) and he will find his in one is pretty average for most working people, never mind unemployed. And quite possible to live on..
Where do I sign up ?
I am the Man who Spoke with this Reporter about My situation and there was a few things left out i would like to add. Firstly i was not surprised at the Response this got becuase Irish people only know how to pick out 1 thing and go on and on and on and dont look at the bigger picture. My child spends 3 Hours a Day in Creche. It Costs us 30 a week to send her. She has her free year in January so i am going to leave her in because she should not be Punished. What was also left out of my situation is i had a visit from TV Inspector and was told i had 1 Month to pay my licence or face a fine or prison so i payed it to get them off my back. I also fell behind on my Bin Tags and my bins where taking away from me so i put some bags into our Bin Bay in our estate which is for apartments only but i was caught and the management company has told me i face being fined for illegal dumping but it was either put it in there bins or leave outside for Rats to get at them. I was accepted abroad for the Army when my Child was younger and by the time i got to see her again she would not have known who i was and i didnt want that also what good am i to them if i am dead or in a wheel chair. Today i woke up to these comments by you people and my Electricity had run out. I dont get paid untill the middle of the week so i had to borrow 10 from a mate to put the electric back on. I could type for Hours telling you the state of my situation but the so called Experts have it all figured out with your comments. Oh and 1 More thing when i contacted this website it was regarding a Article about people turning to crime to pay the bills and thats also something i am considering as i have no choice. Thanks for reading
Wow, that was one long, un-punctuated moan. You sure know how to get us onside! Though the broad insult against “the Irish” would have got there first.
I’m not really blaming you on this sham; Lord knows there are plenty of arseholes out there like you. No, I’m looking with contempt to The Journal for allowing this tripe in the first place.
Not going to creche is now considered some form of punishment? Give me strength, children are resilient and I am sure no child considers spending their day with a parent punishment. If you are serious about trying to look after a family then its a discretionary cost with a prent at home to look after the child. I and many like me grew up in a generation that actually saw poverty, real poverty, no creches, watched by parents who worked flat out around the home without the benefit of mod cons, too busy to moan because they didn’t have the time from having to keep head above water. There are plenty of people working worse off than you and you need to realise that. The difference is they budget, cut out the nonsense and do the best they can with what they have to spend. Instead of turning to crime and robbing people who are struggling to pay their own bills perhaps pop into a budgeting service and tell them all about your situation. They may have much better ideas about dealing with a budget than stealing. Your family will definitely prefer you being at home than being in prison. You have let a situation obviously spiral out of control through a lot of fault of your own and have taken the Irish way out, to whinge. All that might sound harsh, but I grew up in a house with damn all in it and listening to this kind of rubbish drives me insane when there are people with much much worse situations. And turn off the computer, its burning precious electricity.
Kevin.
Stay in Ireland. No need to consider Brit Army. Think the thrust of my comment and the broad consensus above is that you appear to have it ‘good enough’ on welfare. There are probably other areas that you could economise on in order to make the most of your social. My wife had to give up her public service job because we could simply not afford childcare, full stop! It was costing more than she was taking in per month after PS pay cuts.
Talk to MABS. Get some training, anything to assist in your CV. Work your way up the scale from the bottom. It’s THE only way to get yourself out of the hole you find yourself in. DONT consider crime. You are of no use to your family in the Joy.
The article did nothing to demonstrate your predicament. But you know your situation the best. Onward and Upward now. Prove everybody wrong and you will surprise yourself I am sure. Do the best you can for your family.
Best of luck.
Thanks
She won’t have her free year in January. It’s September to June only.
Well said and thank you.
“I don’t want to get my legs blown off”
Sorry, but that is what soldiers do. That’s is the job description. You go fight while the country leaders sit at home.
When the economy is poor, that is how army fodder is created.
There’s considering and actually acting on it. I “considered” it once but never followed through on it. The being away for long periods of time was my issue. Would have no issues with any Irish lad in the British army.
The only warfare this man will see is the war declared on his welfare payments by the Troika, who will be seeking guarantees for its ‘this is not a bail out but it is really’ , support.
recruitment ad? 14k?
The eldest kids transport
http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/wraith/
Fair play think of his family and not sponge of the tax payer
People struggle to live with less than that A MONTH in 3rd world countries and they survive. Creche?! TV License?! Ah…
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