Diversion of much needed commercial rates for Local Government back to employers. Not yet clear if Government will reimburse Local Authorities. No ambition to improve workers’ lives on a permanent basis Low income workers have fared worst in the cost of living crisis Labour spokesperson on Employment Affairs Senator Marie Sherlock has today described the…

Budget 2024 fails to provide adequate disability provisions Disregard for vulnerable evident in Government’s treatment of Section 39 Workers Labour spokesperson on Health and Disability, Deputy Duncan Smith, has today called out the Government for failing to prioritise disability services in Budget 2024. Deputy Smith said: “Government’s failure to invest in disability services is a…

Reacting to today’s Budget announcements on childcare, Labour Women have expressed deep disappointment at the Government’s continued failure to invest in early years education and care. Instead spin is being used to distract from a paltry attempt to use subsidies to paper over the cracks. Last year, in September 2022, the government announced an increase…

Labour Social Protection and Children Spokesperson Seán Sherlock TD has slammed the inordinate delay the government has placed on foster carers by putting a 14 month delay on any raise in their payments. Deputy Sherlock said: “The Foster Carers Association lobbied for an increased payment and now it looks like it’s going to be pushed…

*** Check against delivery *** RTE does too many repeats. And so does this government. There is truth in the hackneyed description of this as a Late Late Show Budget, with one for pretty much everyone in the audience. It is worse still. It’s a Reeling in The Years budget. A lazy re-run of all…

Labour spokesperson on Education Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD has slammed the Government for failing to reduce class sizes in Budget 2024. Deputy Ó Ríordáin says: “It is deeply disappointing that Government has failed to reduce class sizes in Budget 2024. This is a missed opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our…

Tax breaks for landlords with crumbs for renters Half-hearted attempts to tackle vacancy Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik has slammed the housing measures announced in Budget 2024. Deputy Bacik said: “The paltry housing package announced by this conservative coalition is nothing short of pathetic, and the fixes proposed are only cosmetic. Fine Gael…

Limiting free school books to those in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year is a missed opportunity Labour spokesperson on Education Aodhán Ó Riordáin TD has called on Government to extend free school books to all children, not just 1st, 2nd and 3rd years, in budget 2024. Deputy Ó Riordáin said: “No child should be left…