Fianna Fáil has published its submission for Budget 2013 “A Fairer Way to Recovery”.
The party’s submission proposes a budget adjustment package of €3.5 billion with an almost even split between taxation and expenditure measures.
According to the party’s Finance Spokesperson, the submission is based on three key priorities.
Deputy McGrath stated, “First, we are proposing that education, mental health and disability services be fully protected. Second, enterprise is at the heart of our budget approach and we will not add to the cost of employing people. Third, we are committing ourselves to a progressive approach to the budget unlike last year’s budget which hit poorer income households the hardest.
“We have also been able to exceed the government’s taxation targets without including a residential property tax. We are proposing a number of targeted stimulus measures, we are publishing an innovative package of measures for those stuck in a negative equity trap and we are proposing to extend mortgage interest relief for first time buyers for another year.
“The package we are publishing today is not a template for an easy budget, but we believe it is fair, progressive and it supports the very enterprises who have the ability to lead this country to recovery,” Deputy McGrath said.
Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform Sean Fleming added, “The planned €550 million cut to the capital budget is too deep and we are proposing an extra €150 million in capital spending. We believe overall Social Protection expenditure can be reduced without cutting payment rates and we are urging the Government not to touch child benefit. We also propose a target of additional savings of €350 million across public sector pay.”
Spokesperson on Jobs and Enterprise Dara Calleary added, “The Government’s Jobs Initiative has failed to make any dent whatsoever in the jobs crisis, with the number of people in work dropping by 24,000 since the start of this year alone. We propose increasing the places in local employment schemes and investing further in employment-intensive capital projects. We also propose a series of measures providing greater supports to SMEs that will tackle the burden of commercial rates, provide stricter controls over the availability of credit and avoid transferring the cost of sick pay onto employers.”
A Fairer Way to Recovery - Fianna Fáil Proposals for Budget 2013