The Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael Budget failed to address a number of key issues in the areas of housing, health, tax and water charges.
The Government also failed to tackle rising costs of living. They are under investing in public services and in infrastructure such as homes, schools, health facilities and roads. This Budget only promotes an unfair tax system and Fianna Fáil failed to keep their pre-election promise to making provision for the abolition domestic water charges.
The increase in health is minimal and will do little to sustain our hospitals and health services throughout 2017. Sinn Féin have pointed to the reliance on the mere €15m spend on the National Treatment Purchase Fund which is a move away from a universal public health service. With over half a million people on waiting lists this move shows just how out of touch with reality the Government is.
In our alternative budget Sinn Féin provided current/capital investment of over €600m additional spending. This would reduce overcrowding in hospitals, increase the number nurses and doctors, and move towards building a world class mental health care system among others.
In terms of housing the Government have offered tax rebates for people who can afford to purchase a new house up to the value of €600,000. This will simply drive up the price of housing. Yet homeless people have been offered nothing.
“Sinn Féin has called for a €24m increase in funding for homeless accommodation in 2017, while investing an additional €490 million to deliver 7,000 new social housing units.
One of the biggest cost of living expenses for many people is soaring rents.
We have brought forward legislation to introduce rent certainty. Unfortunately Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil voted against Sinn Féin’s Rent Certainty Bill last June. This would have reduced the cost of living for thousands of renters and prevented many families from becoming homeless.
“Correct tax measures have the potential to create a fairer society where the wealthier inevitably contribute a little more. The Fianna Fáil/ Fine Gael Budget does the opposite. The ½% cut in USC makes little difference to low to middle income earners for example someone on €20,000 per annum will benefit by €1.90 a week, while someone on €35,000 will receive a mere €3.30 a week. This reduction may be welcomed by some but it will do little to help pay for increasing motor insurance, house tax, soaring rent prices and water charges.
“It is little surprise that the Budget contains no provision for the abolition of water charges, something that Fianna Fáil supported pre-election. Sinn Féin have fully costed for the abolition of domestic water charges.
This budget is not about what is best for our people, our economy and our services. It will not end the crisis in health and housing. It will not deliver tax fairness and does not end water charges. It is a budget about Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. It is a political backroom budget. A better way is possible, Sinn Féin brought forward costed proposals that would invest in our future, lift the burden on working families, ensure tax fairness and deliver homes, health and education.
