How smart an economy?

Madam, – Having lost my job this year I have returned to education as a mature student in order to become an active future member…

Madam, – Having lost my job this year I have returned to education as a mature student in order to become an active future member of the much-touted smart economy.

But it would seem the smart economy is hindered by myopic policy and bureaucracy that will soon see me forced to leave my preferred course out of necessity.

Being unemployed for merely six months I’m not without a job long enough to qualify for the Back to Education Allowance; and as I’m now a registered student my benefits were terminated with ruthless overnight efficiency by the Department of Social Protection (a misnomer?), obviously due to my wealth having increased in a similarly dramatic fashion overnight too.

I suspect this Government is none too serious about encouraging those of us who have lost our incomes to become available for taxation again in the future. – Yours, etc,

JJ CAROLAN,

Ballyconnell,

Co Cavan.