The New Year has only just begun but Galway families will soon feel the pain of the incoming cutbacks and new taxes introduced in December’s Budget.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson and Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív, who said lower and middle income families, particularly those with young children, will bear the brunt of “deeply unfair cuts”.
“While the rich are protected, young families will soon see their child benefit cut, the clothing and footwear allowance cut and maternity benefit taxed, as well as paying extra PRSI,” he said. “And as if this wasn’t enough, they will be expected to pay hundreds of euro a year in property taxes on a home they cannot afford as it is.”
Dep Ó Cuív said it is the combined effect of these measures which will “push many families into severe difficulty”. While he acknowledged that the recession meant “tough decisions had to be made in this budget”, he said he “cannot understand why ordinary families, workers, and carers were targeted for the brunt of the pain while Fine Gael looks after big earners
