BUDGET 2017

 

OLDER PERSON SERVICES

• A €5 increase in the State Pension together with an increase in the income threshold for the Non- Contributory State Pension

• Reinstating of the Bereavement Grant and Telephone allowance- two cuts which have had a devastating impact on the elderly.

• A €5 increase in the Living alone allowance.

• Increased funding for Home Help and Home Care Packages to keep the elderly living in their homes for as long as possible and relieving pressure on our hospitals.

• Increased funding for the Nursing Home Supports Scheme.

 

•  

HEALTH

• Automatic entitlement to a medical card for all children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance and to all those diagnosed with Cancer.

• Reduction in the use of agency staff and increased incentives for the employment of Health Care Staff to entice our Doctors and Nurses to return to our Health Services.

• An increased commitment to early intervention services for children with special needs with an aim to reduce waiting times for assessment and follow up therapies to below three months.

• Increased funding for Orthodontic treatment.

• Increase in funding for minor operations such as Cataract operations where people are waiting up to two years for straight forward procedures.

• The introduction of a €1 per cap charge for alcohol sold by Supermarkets and off licences to tackle below cost selling and underage binge drinking.

 

•  

DISABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

• Allocation of an additional €35 million for Community Mental Health Services.

• Increased funding for residential places for people with enduring mental health issues with a particular emphasis on funding for dual diagnosis patients.

• Increased funding for Respite Care Services.

• Investment of an additional €100m for intellectual disability services. 

 

EDUCATION

• To restore primary school capitation grants from the current levels of €170 to their previous levels of €200
• Restore Pay Equality for teachers, an estimated €16 million is required initially to equalise 2012 and 2011 entrants.
• Reduce class sizes in schools, a reduction of one at all points of the staffing schedule is estimated to cost €18 million in a full year.

AGRICULTURE

• Increase in funding for the Rural Social Scheme thus enabling the scheme to take on more costs.
• Increase in the Suckler Cow Grant.
• The Introduction of a land tax for large conglomerates who purchase and hold land banks of over 750 acres.
• The immediate implementation and payment of the sheep grants as promised in the programme for government
• The streamlining and improvement of the system of farm payments following inspections.

 

SUPPORTS FOR LOW & MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS

Budget 2017 must include measures directed at relieving the pressures of low and middle income earners

• Any Affordable Childcare measures to be implemented must give the greatest impact to these workers.

• The introduction of a Home Carers Credit to support parents who stay at home to care for their children and to ensure that all childcare options are supported giving greater choice to parents.

• A review of the Universal Social Charge.

 

•  

SUPPORTS FOR BUSINESS AND THE SELF EMPLOYED

• Retention of the Hospitality VAT Rate.

• Retention of the Current excise duties on Diesel and Petrol

• Application of the lower VAT Rate of 13.5% to the tyre industry.

• The introduction of a PRSI Scheme for the self-employed to ensure that they are sufficiently supported during times of illness or low income.

• The Introduction of a Working Family Payment to ensure that Social Welfare Schemes supporting low income families do not discriminate against the self-employed and farming families.

• Smuggling continues to be a massive issue for retailers as the price of illegal cigarettes on the streets can be as little as €4 while they cost over €10 in legitimate retailers. A fine to the tune of €10million minimum for smugglers in an effort to support legitimate retailers who are trying to compete with such illegal entities.

 

•  

LOCAL SERVICES

• The increase of local roads funding by 25% in 2017 and the extension of the Local Improvement Scheme.
• The introduction of a VRT Relief on vehicles purchased by Community and Voluntary groups together with an examination of VAT Rates applied to vital and lifesaving equipment purchased by Community and Voluntary groups such as defibrillators.
• Measures to fast track the construction of new social and private housing and an increase of funding to Local Authorities for the upgrade and retrofitting of the vacant housing stock.
• The development of a new Co-ordinating unit within the department of Enterprise to work with communities to develop co-operatives to keep vital local services in place and to retain and develop vibrant local enterprises.
• The introduction of a direct subsidy for Post Offices to help them with running costs.
• An increase in funding for family resource centres.