Labour launch Alternative Budget

Labour have thrown their hat into the Alternative Budget ring, giving voters a taste of what they would do if they were calling the shots in Leinster House.

The party have gone with a “bazooka” approach, similar to other left-of-centre parties across Europe, looking for more spending as opposed to tax cuts.

The headline figure in their Alternative Budget is €6.9 billion in spending over the next year, with €3 billion of that going towards measures that would tackle the cost of living.

Their cost of living crisis measures includes a €90 million fund to vacancy and dereliction to increase the supply of housing, a €9 unlimited public transport ticket, an increase of social welfare payments by €15 from October, and €27.50 per week in 2024, a doubling of the Christmas child benefit payment, and a once-off €250 November fuel allowance payment.

Labour says they would ringfence €1.6 billion for tackling labour shortages, build social housing on public land, invest in retrofitting for homes, and implement measures to help renters.

On worker’s issues, the party said they would end taxation of union membership, provide paid leave for pregnancy loss, introduce indexation of income tax and USC credits, and increase the minimum wage to €13.30 per hour, with public servants earning €14.80 an hour.

Environmental policies also feature in the plan, with a tax that targets SUVs, data centres, and the removal of VAT on electronic bikes representing an olive branch to environmentally-minded voters.

Launching the proposals, Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash said “we are at a crucial point in our country, yet I don’t believe this Government is up to the task ahead.”

“We’ve had an unprecedented number of industrial relations issues, workers struggling to keep the lights on and food on the table, and too many children with disabilities falling through the yawning gaps in our disability services.”

“Labour has a vision for a better Ireland, an Ireland that works for all. An Ireland where when a child is sick, you can attend the doctor without fear of affordability. An Ireland where if you provide crucial care work to the State and communities, you will be paid fairly. An Ireland where everyone has a home. An Ireland where we slash inequality once and for all.”

The party also included some proposals to tackle the issues of crime and sports funding, with the party proposing raising the garda training allowance to a starting salary, up from the current allowance of €184 per week, as well as investing €13 million in League of Ireland football, €6 million in grants and changing facilities for women and girls in sport and €25 million to fund 50 community playing pitches.

“Politics is about choices. Labour is listening to communities nationwide and our Budget is a reflection of their wants, their needs and their desires. The lack of leadership from this Government is exasperating the housing crisis, the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis. We need change, and we need change now,” Nash said.