'Alternative Budget 2015' launched by Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget – which is once again costed by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure – shows how this year’s Budget could start to repair communities, rebuild the economy and renew society’ – Pearse Doherty TD

SINN FÉIN’S Alternative Budget 2015 lays out how Sinn Féin in government would abolish the Local Property Tax and water charges, and the party’s programme for investing in disability services, health and education.

Launching the proposals in Dublin on Wednesday, Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD said the party’s alternative would “repair communities, rebuild the economy and renew society”.

Pearse said:

“Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget – which is once again costed by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure – shows how this year’s Budget could start to repair communities, rebuild the economy and renew society.

“The Budget is fiscally neutral which, as Finance Minister Noonan has pointed out, would bring Ireland under the targeted 3% deficit for 2015.

“Our priority in Budget 2015 is to reduce the tax burden on working families and low-income and middle-income households by scrapping the Property Tax and water charges.

“We would move all people earning under the minimum wage out of the USC net and we are keeping the exemption for households earning under €60,000 and on medical cards.

“In a full year our tax-raising measures would bring in an additional €1.7billion through a third rate of income tax, restoring CGT and CAT to 40%, a 3% betting tax and a range of other measures. However, the net tax increase will be just €263.7million as our measures would see €1.053billion going back to low to middle income workers.

“We have prioritised investment in disability services, through a €202million package of 11 measures. We would also reverse cuts to the respite care grant and increase the Family Income Supplement. We would tackle the scourge of emigration by restoring the full rate for young jobseekers over two Budgets starting with €40 in this budget.

“We would hire 1,000 resource teachers and 1,000 nurses and midwives as well fund for other frontline workers as required.

“On the capital side we would tackle the social housing crisis with a €1billion injection from the Strategic Investment fund. This alternative would give people a break while balancing the books.”

Key points

● Put €800million back into the pockets of ordinary workers through the abolition of the Property Tax and by stopping water charges

● Invest an additional €202.6million in disability services and supports

● Prioritise investment in health and education to make back to school more affordable and recruit an additional 1.000 nurses and midwives

● Help stop forced emigration of our young people by restoring the Jobseeker's payment for those under 26 over two years

● Invest €1billion from the Strategic Investment Fund to build an additional 6,600 homes over the next 18 months and create 8,000 jobs

● Reduce salaries and allowances of high-earners in the public sector and Oireachtas 

◼︎ See the video and read more at www.sinnfein.ie