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.
“£100 will do nothing. The home heating oil today is about £1.28 or £1.25 a litre,” he said.
“So £100 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”.
Sue Deacon is a volunteer at Belleek hub, a community centre in the village.
She thinks the pension income tax change will offer a small relief for pensioners.
“I’m pleased to see any help that they can get us a pensioner,” she said.
“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.”
Hugh Ferguson is retired and said the challenges of living in a rural area with little money makes things difficult for pensioners in Belleek.
“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.
“Fuel cost, heating oil – very expensive,
“And that’s more than doubled, but of course, our incomes haven’t doubled, so it’s very difficult for us.”