Graduate Clare O’Leary is a single parent and says inflation has hit her so hard that she was forced to go to St Vincent De Paul to help her pay a € 400 utility bill.
‘s O’Leary, 32, from the town of Wexford, has just completed her degree in psychology from the South East University of Technology in Waterford.
But the single parent of seven-year-old son Peter said his ambition to “improve myself” certainly did not stop there.
Ms O’Leary is about to accept a place at either DCU or UCC to study for a master’s degree in strategic studies, to take her one step further in becoming a psychologist.
“However, the cost of living really makes things very difficult,” Ms O’Leary said.
“I had a student maintenance grant, but the moment I left university in May, it was cut off,” the mother said.
“I now help to take care of a family member while I also take care of my son and I then go back to college to study my masters.
“But in the meantime I see the cost of everything has risen so much. My shopping bill went from € 80 to € 110.
When she sought the help of charity, she said: “I got an electricity bill of € 400 for two months and I just could not afford it, so I had to ask Vincent De Paul for help. It was hard to ask, but I’m trying to get somewhere and the cost makes it very difficult. I told myself to get the help and when I can give back to St Vincent De Paul to help someone else in my situation, I will.
“But things just should not be like that. I feel the Government is completely out of touch with what is happening to real people.
“The only way to make the future better for people is to introduce a universal income, to ensure that everyone can pay their bills.
“We have been through so much as a society with the pandemic and now high inflation. I noticed that everything was going to increase – from the cost of petrol, to food and utility bills. “
Ms O’Leary added that she and her son have not been on holiday since 2018. “This year I plan to use a tent I own to take Peter on an adventurous camp (outing), because that’s the most we can possibly think of.
“I had to cut out all the delicacies and choose even cheaper meat or else just pick up bulk dinners with more vegetables.
“I got used to doing things cheaper as a student, but I can not even go and drink coffee now.
“Something you have to give.
“The Government must now start listening to what it is like to live under a high cost of living. I believe universal basic income is the way to address it and they can start by increasing the launch they are already looking at for art workers. ”