A former Mayor of Clare doesn’t believe Budget 2023 was an ‘election budget’ as it only gave the impression of providing something for ‘everyone in the audience’.
The controversial levy on concrete and the failure to provide funding for the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to the local authority are two sticking points of particular importance in this county.
Budget 2023 has been dubbed by Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, as a ‘cost-of-living’ budget, with high expectations from the public to deliver measures to offset the high level of inflation.
The largest spend in the history of the state, the 11 billion euro budget delivered a €1,000 rental tax credit, a €12 increase in social welfare payments, an increase in the tax bracket for middle income earners and a 25% cut in childcare costs.
Initially pegged as an ‘election budget’, criticism of some key measures soon began to unfold.
Backbench TD’s – including Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD, Cathal Crowe – have vocalised their opposition to the introduction of a 10% levy on concrete blocks.
SIPTU have hit out at the coalition for failing to fund the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites from Shannon Airport Group to Clare County Council.
Former Mayor of Clare and Shannon, Patricia McCarthy, says once you scratch the surface of Budget 2023, the cracks begin to show.
However, a former Minister of Defence is praising the government’s performance in delivering a budget in such challenging times.
Former Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, Tony Killeen, says the nature of a budget means it’s inevitable that some groups will be disappointed.
The Corofin native insists the background against which this budget was decided upon needs to be taken into consideration.
You can listen back to the full interview below:
