\n<\/p>\n
Leo Slevin, from Belleek Men’s Shed in County Fermanagh, said the village was a deprived area and in real terms the Budget did not offer much help to people.<\/p>\n
“\u00a3100 will do nothing. The home heating oil today is about \u00a31.28 or \u00a31.25 a litre,” he said.<\/p>\n
“So \u00a3100 will not scratch the surface of putting any heat, unless it’s coming every month to people. It’ll make no difference on a yearly basis – absolutely none”.<\/p>\n
Sue Deacon is a volunteer at Belleek hub, a community centre in the village. <\/p>\n
She thinks the pension income tax change will offer a small relief for pensioners.<\/p>\n
“I’m pleased to see any help that they can get us a pensioner,” she said. <\/p>\n
“Because my fear is that with the pensions, the allowance staying the same, if pensions rise a lot more pensioners will be paying tax and they shouldn’t have to pay tax on a state pension.”<\/p>\n
Hugh Ferguson is retired and said the challenges of living in a rural area with little money makes things difficult for pensioners in Belleek.<\/p>\n
“Because we’re a rural area, and we’re a long way from a major centre, we spend a lot on fuel, driving back and forth, so that’s difficult, with the prices going on,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Fuel cost, heating oil – very expensive,<\/p>\n
“And that’s more than doubled, but of course, our incomes haven’t doubled, so it’s very difficult for us.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n