Clare Senator Says Government Could Reduce Tax Take From Fuel, But Not Without Placing Burden Elsewhere

Mosharaf Hossain from Getty via Canva .com

Clare’s Fianna Fáil Senator admits the Government could reduce the state’s tax take from fuel, but not without placing the burden elsewhere.

Cabinet Ministers will approve the outline of Budget 2023 this afternoon and it’s expected the Government will break its own spending rules to approve more than 2 billion euro in new measures.

The Summer Economic Statement sets out how much money the Government thinks it will have to spend for next year and gives a major update on the state of the economy ahead of the budget.

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This year it’s getting more attention than usual, given the intense cost of living pressures people are facing.

That will be the main focus of this budget, with Ministers trying to strike a balance between easing cost pressures and not adding to inflation.

It’s expected there will be a significant social welfare package, which could include an autumn double payment similar to the Christmas bonus.

Tax measures are also expected, with Fine Gael in particular looking for a new income tax band at 30%, while a repeat payment of the 200 euro electricity is also on the table.

Ministers will re-examine public transport fares as well, but Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath are also expected to point out potential threats to the Government’s bottom line, including unreliable corporate tax receipts.

The President of the Clare branch of St Vincent De Paul says people in and out of work are at the pin of their collar and he believes it’s those who are in the most difficulty that should be given the most help by the State in Budget 2023.

The Clare-based President of the Irish Road Haulage Association insists the Government must take steps to reduce its tax take in the budget.

Eugene Drennan of Spa Transport in Ennis is meeting Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to discuss rising fuel costs.

He believes the Government has gone a step too far, with too much hanging on the price of fuel.

Listen back to the full interview here:

Clare Senator Timmy Dooley hopes there will be some wiggle room when it comes to fuel prices in the Budget, which he says is expected to be in late September.

But the Mountshannon Fianna Fáil Senator says if the tax take from fuel is reduced, the Government would have to shift the burden onto other services.

Listen back to the full interview here: