There is no need to hit hard-pressed homeowners with a property tax in the upcoming Budget or to slash front line services further - there is a fairer way.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesperson and Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív, who was speaking following the publication of Fianna Fáil’s alternative budget for 2013 proposals.
Fianna Fáil proposals, which have been fully costed by the Department of Finance, will reach the target of €3.5 billion in savings next year through an even split of taxation and expenditure measures.
The party has also worked out measures to exceed the Government’s own tax targets for next year, without introducing property taxes.
“We believe this is not the time for a property tax, with so many homeowners in Galway and across the country struggling to pay their mortgage,” said Dep Ó Cuív.
The proposals also include a full reversal of cuts to home help hours and that education, mental health and disability services be fully protected.
“This means reversing the deeply unfair slash and burn of home help hours, as well as reversing the cuts to rural schools and DEIS schools, and the dangerous cuts to guidance counsellors at second level,” said the Connemara based TD. “We also propose lifting the ban on recruitment in the Gardaí, as local Garda services in this region have already been stretched to the limit and hundreds more gardaí are due to retire next year.”
Dep Ó Cuív said his party’s proposals are about a “fairer way towards recovery, instead of expecting hard-pressed families and the most vulnerable people to bear the brunt of the burden”.
