Budget 2015: The reaction

PRUDENT, cautious, fair and daylight robbery were just some of the words used to describe Budget 2015 that was unveiled last week.

A typically mixed reaction greeted the budget that has been touted as the one that signalled the end of austerity.

Locally, politicians variously welcomed the budget or slammed it, depending on what side of the political fence they were on while the more general favourites such as alcohol and tobacco attracted their fair share of comment.

Here are just a few of the comments that flooded Southside People’s inbox during the week:
A

“prudent and cautious budget that marked the beginning of a recovery in the economy,

? Deputy Eamonn Maloney (Lab) said.

“It is only right that the benefits of the economic recovery should be shared with those who suffered from the collapse in our national finances,

? he stated.

“Families, older people and low and middle income workers will benefit.

?

Deputy Maloney referred to the

?¬2.2 billion capital investment for social housing for the next three years that was also seized upon by Senator Aideen Hayden (Lab) as a move in the right direction.

“With 90,000 people currently waiting for social housing, lack of available units has been pointed to as a key problem in addressing this issue,

? Senator Hayden said.

The Senator, who is currently Chairperson of Threshold, the National Housing Organisation, said that during her time in the Senate she had consistently lobbied for an increase in the provision of social housing and the reform of Rent Supplement.

“The department project that 7,500 new units will be completed in 2015,

? she added.

“This is a 500 per cent increase in the amount of units built last year and shows this Government’s recognition that housing is one of the biggest issues facing this country.

?

Deputy Catherine Byrne (FG) also welcomed the

“positive

? steps taken in Budget 2015 to address the housing shortage and the homeless crisis.

“Budget 2015 is taking positive steps to address the social housing shortage and the issue of homelessness,

? she said.

“It was good to hear Ministers Noonan and Howlin acknowledge today in their Dáil speeches that the market is not meeting the housing needs of our citizens, particularly in Dublin.

“I have been seeing this in my clinics for quite some time. It was encouraging to hear the two Ministers announce a range of measures to address the social housing shortage in particular.

?

However, Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Social Protection, Aengus O Snodaigh TD, insisted that the budget would do little to end austerity in the homes of carers and lone parents.

“The much touted promise that Budget 2015 heralds the end of austerity is laughable,

? he said.

“The unemployed, carers and those with disabilities will continue to suffer as this Government’s draconian cuts continue to impact our vulnerable members of society.

“A paltry Christmas bonus and a meagre

?¬5 rise in Child Benefit doesn’t make a dent in the deluge of cuts implemented by this Government since 2011.

?

The budget provided a

“chink of hope that the economic recovery will deliver a fair and equitable distribution of wealth in society

?, Fergus Finlay, the CEO of Barnardos, said.

“The increase of

?¬5 for Child Benefit in Budget 2015, and a further additional

?¬5 in Budget 2016, is particularly welcome as low income families have been disproportionately affected by the previous cuts,

? he said.

“Universal payments are proven to more effectively combat poverty.

?

But the budget would do nothing to prevent the ongoing damage to second-level schools and to students’ education caused by years of education cuts, the ASTI argued.

“While today’s budget contains no new education cuts, the Government must do more to protect education,

? ASTI President Philip Irwin said.

“More than 20 separate education cuts implemented since 2009 continue to impact on second-level schools, students and teachers.

?

The National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) welcomed the Government’s decision not to increase excise duty on alcohol.

Chairperson Evelyn Jones stated:

“We welcome the Government’s decision to support the independent off-licence sector and the 5,800 people employed in the industry by not increasing excise on alcohol. We are still operating in a challenging economic climate but today’s announcement will serve to provide a degree of reassurance to small business owners all over Ireland.

?

The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) also welcomed the Government’s decision not to increase excise on alcohol, stating that the industry was hit with excise increases in Budget 2013 and 2014.

In relation to the price of cigarettes, the smokers’ group Forest Ã?ireann condemned as

“daylight robbery

? the 40 cent increase.

However, the Irish Heart Foundation’s Head of Advocacy, Chris Macey, said that by breaking the

?¬10 barrier on a pack of cigarettes, the Government was putting another significant nail in the coffin of a tobacco industry whose products kill 14 people every day in Ireland.

However, the smokers’ group Forest Ã?ireann condemned as

“daylight robbery

? the 40 cent rise in the price of cigarettes, announced by the Finance Minister.

Spokesman John Mallon said:

“Once again smokers have been singled out.

“A rise of 40 cents is daylight robbery. It discriminates against the elderly, the low paid and the unemployed.

?