FITZPATRICK SAYS BUDGET ‘A MISSED OPPORTUNITY’
Dundalk TD Peter Fitzpatrick, has branded the budget as ‘a missed opportunity’ which failed to deliver and should have done more for the less well off, pensioners and the squeezed middle.
Speaking in the budget debate in the Dail last week, the former TD acknowledged the progress made in improving the country’s finances since the economic crash.
‘We are now in a position where the finances are in a very healthy state and we should be in a position to pay back some of the burden carried by the Irish people during the austerity years.
We are also in a position where money is available to improve our public service.’
While he welcomed the increase in the health budget he said he had ‘a major problem with the returns we are getting on this investment’ saying that despite being allocated its largest budget ever, the Department of Health is still not delivering on targets.
He called for the restoration of services at the Louth County Hospital including a fully functioning accident and emergency department
Welcoming the €2.3 billion investment in housing, he said a real plan was needed to ensure the money allocated is invested in the most efficient way pos- sible to deliver much needed social housing.
He pointed out that while Louth County Council has been one of the most progressive in the country in developing houses that were in a state of disrepair it was now unable to develop any more in 2018 due to a lack of money being made available by the Government.
Deputy Fitzpatrick also called on the Minister to look at Dundalk being included in the rent pressure zone.
‘Overall, I feel the budget was a missed opportunity. We have employers now faced with increased PRSI contributions for their employees, which will be a disincentive to create new jobs. We have the squeezed middle only benefitting by an average of €5 per week, which will be offset in increases elsewhere. We must not forget that it was the squeezed middle who carried most of the burden during the austerity years. The Government is not doing enough for them. The budget should have done more for the less well off, our pensioners and, of course, the squeezed middle.’
He expressed his shock at the decision to increase the VAT on the hospitality sector and highlighted the problems faced by the sector with the coming threat of Brexit.