Sherlock critical of Budget

The benefits of Budget 2017 have been spread too thin to be of any major benefit.

That’s the view of Cork East Labour TD Sean Sherlock, who said the Budget tended to focus on “top-line” figures in the areas of social protection and excise duties along with some “media friendly” policies.

“The cold light of day analysis of the figures shows how thinly the government has spread the Budget, despite the savings of €200 that were outlined by the Labour Party Friday,” said Deputy Sherlock.

He said that budget that seeks to be all things to all people, will be “nothing to anybody.”

“It a budget that misdirects resources in its scatter-gun approach. It provides an additional €50 million plus for child care services and over €25 million for a sheep scheme. It does very little by way of an impact on child care,” said Deputy Sherlock.

Deputy Sherlock also criticised the introduction of the ‘HelpTo-Buy’ Scheme for first time buyers of new homes, saying that it would pit such buyers against each other and drive up the cost of houses even more.

“Where is the money that will follow A Vision for Change? Where is the money for mental health? The former Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch, did battle internally and with our friends in Fine Gael to protect a mental health budget but I see no real monetary mention of in this budget,” said Deputy Sherlock.

He said the provision of 680 new teachers to meet demographic demands was not a new one.

“As such, I would not be trumpeting it as an innovative measure. More teachers are needed as the population increases so something beyond mere demographic adjustment was required.”