Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Emergency budget sickening - ordinary families to lose Thousands - Donegal County council to lose up to 10 million

Published: 8 April, 2009

Emergency budget sickening - ordinary families to lose Thousands -
Donegal County council to lose up to 10 million

Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty has described the emergency budget as
sickening. Senator Doherty was speaking following the announcement from
the government that families will lose their early childcare supplement,
mortgage interest relief and even those on the lowest of incomes will
see taxes double.

Senator Doherty claimed that most people are still unaware of the full
impact of the budget, as much of the cuts were not announced publicly by
the minister on the day - such as the 25% funding for local and regional
roads, which could see up to €10 million taken back from Donegal County
Council this year.

Senator Doherty said: "Despite government claims that this budget would
be fair, it's implications will be far from fair. Where is the fairness
in taking thousands of euros from families on the lowest of incomes in
the form of the early childcare supplement and mortgage interest relief?
Where is the fairness for our children who will continue be taught in
run-down classrooms as a result of the cut of €30 million from the
school buildings programme? Where is the fairness for our struggling
farmers who have seen their REPS payments cut by 17% and other subsidies
ended.

"It is clear that this government has no clue what is needed at this
time. What is required is a fair and progressive taxation system,
coupled with a job creation strategy. This government has failed on both
accounts.

"Over the past few weeks we in Sinn Féin have launched our own job
creation strategy. The strategy is fully costed and the required funding
identified. Our pre-budget submission identified over €3 billion in
money raised and saved. These proposals show that there were other
options but these options were not taken as they would mean that those
earning the most would pay their fair share.

"If the government chose our options, we would build twice as many
schools, protect investment in roads and social housing, increase
spending on broadband and create a €300 million job retention fund to
keep workers in work and away from the dole queues. This government has
claimed that it cannot cut Ministers wages who earn close to €200,000
per year until further studies are undertaken. However no such
hesitation was shown to our 18 and 19 year olds who through no fault of
their own have found themselves unemployed and have now seen the social
welfare payment cut from €200 to €100 per week.

"It is deeply worrying that the government has decided to cut the
funding for local and regional roads by €150 million. This 25% cut in
the funding that was allocated to local authorities earlier this year
will mean that Donegal County Council will have to return anything up to
€10 million that was to be spent on our local and regional road
network."

Senator Doherty concluded:

"If there is any lesson to be taken from this budget it is that this
government is tired, incompetent and unable to understand the hardship
that ordinary families are facing as a result of the mess that they made
of the economy. While they have not done the right thing by this budget
they can still do the right thing by resigning. It is time for them to
go and time for new ideas and real leadership." ENDS