Independent councillor Paul Hogan has described the recently announced implications of Budget 2024 as “high on rhetoric, low on impact” and a “damp squib for many families who were expecting something better”.
“The Government unveiled a €14 billion budget package, comprising €5.27bn increase in public spending, €4.76bn on non-core funding to respond to exceptional circumstances, €1.1bn of tax measures and €2.3bn of once-off expenditures amongst other expenditures.
“This Budget is high on rhetoric and low on impact. What was actually announced in terms of measures is a far cry short on what was mooted. It will certainly be viewed as a damp squib by many.
“The €12 increase in Social Welfare payments and changes to tax brackets are welcome but with the cost of living crisis, the budget didn’t go far enough. Once-off payments for Fuel Allowance, Disability Allowance and Living Alone Allowance are only short-term solutions. The Annual Rent Credit will only cover a month’s rent in County Westmeath, while the reduction of childcare costs by 25 percent will not be introduced until September 2024. People have experienced huge increases in food, electricity and gas, interest rates, rents, mortgages and inflation,” Cllr Hogan stated.
The Independent councillor noted that Budget 2024 offers little hope to fix the ever-increasing crises in public services particularly in health and social care; housing and homelessness, and policing.
“According to the CEO of the HSE, the organisation will be unable to deliver the same services as last year because of a deficit of between €2.4 to €2.7 billion. The budget contains no new funding for the Minister to deliver on the promised 1500 additional beds or to deliver on commitments given to the mental health services or to deliver the new tiered model of assessment and improved access to information and resources for people with autism.
“The capital funding won’t even keep pace with inflation. This will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect in terms of waiting times on trolleys; the 700,000 people waiting on a date for a hospital appointment will continue to wait; and commitments pledged in the HSE Service Plan in terms of increasing residential and respite spaces for people with disabilities will not be delivered,” Cllr Hogan added.
The councillor contended that Budget 2024 also represented a squandered opportunity to deal with the housing crisis, further asserting the need to address the escalating anti-social behaviour issues which continue to blight the community.
“Record numbers of people are experiencing homelessness. Renters have experienced significant increases in their payments. Mortgage interest rates have increased. Not enough houses are been built to meet demand. Many young people in their 20s and 30s and older are in secure employment but are still living at home because they cannot afford to enter into home ownership. This budget does very little for them.
“In terms of policing, people have genuine concern around rising levels of crimes, increasing levels of anti-social behaviour and decreasing numbers of guards locally. Although 1,000 additional gardai were included in the budget, this will not resolve the issues in Westmeath. The new Operating Model will be a disaster for Athlone and the wider district. Of the 116 guards that recently graduated from Templemore, over 90 percent were allocated to Dublin. This is despite Athlone having fewer gardaí than it had this time last year and crime levels have effectively doubled over many categories. There are very little solutions in this budget that tackles retention levels within An Garda Síochána and the fact that many guards are leaving the force early.
“Budget 2024 represents a damp squib for many people and a squandered opportunity to tackle the crises people are experiencing in health, housing, and policing. All the sticky plasters in the world will not cover the gaping wounds that these services are experiencing today,” Cllr Hogan concluded.
