Labour calls for mini-Budget for working families
Labour calls for mini-Budget for working families - The Labour Party
- Targeted energy credits of €400 for average income households
- Income tax indexation as promised during GE24
- Support for families with groceries and school costs
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions today, Labour’s finance spokesperson Ged Nash TD called on the Tánaiste to introduce a mini-Budget to help PAYE workers and working families.
Deputy Nash said:
“In response to me in the Dáil today, the Tánaiste point blank refused the introduction of a mini-budget at a time when families are stretched beyond the pin of their collar. They need a direct answer from this Government about what they will do to end the cost of living crisis that is ravaging the State.
“Over the last six months Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents made decisions that left those workers behind, and worse off. They are charging ahead on plain silly VAT cuts for fast food firms, paid for by PAYE workers rather than indexing income tax bands and credits.
“Perhaps the most hare-brained decision of all was to withdraw critical once off payments and energy credits from families that relied on a couple of hundred euro to ease the burden of Europe’s highest electricity prices. People have been abandoned by this Government at the same time that they are receiving bills for three, four or five hundred euro.
“The Iran war will nearly double inflation this year. Construction and food prices will rise further, making a complete mockery of your VAT cut misadventure. Grocery prices were already increasing at over 6%. Electricity prices will rise even more, adding €150 to average bills, bills that were already sky high.
“Before Easter the Tánaiste and other members of the government were talking about tax cuts for the richest in our society – on inheritances and for special investment accounts. This was tone deaf.
“PAYE workers should not have to wait over six months for relief when protestors only had to wait a week – that’s why Labour are now calling on this Government to implement a mini-Budget to protect those who have been left utterly stranded by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
“I am calling on Government to take real action by reversing VAT cuts, introducing a windfall tax on energy companies and use the money for:
- Targeted energy credits of €400 for average income households.
- The income tax indexation you promised in the general election, but abandoned last October.
- Real support for families with grocery bills and school costs.
“Families simply cannot wait any longer. They need supports and they need it now. It’s time for Government to step up for PAYE workers and introduce a mini-budget to get them through a cost of living crisis that is biting at every door.”