Any tax relief in the forthcoming budget should exceed the amount people will pay in water charges, according to Labour TD for Galway West Derek Nolan.
Deputy Nolan said this week: “If there is any flexibility in this October’s budget it should ease the pressure on low and middle income families who are struggling financially, and are now facing water charges.
“There has been much speculation about changes in the rate of income tax or cuts in the Universal Social Charge (USC ) but ultimately the bottom line should be about giving people a break.”
“With bills for water charges beginning to come into people’s homes from January 2015, it is vital that any tax reduction in Budget 2015 exceeds the amount of water charges low and middle income families will pay.
“A reduction in USC, which I would favour, would have an immediate impact on people’s pay and put a little money back in their pockets. However, if this is going straight back out on water charges, the reduction is pointless,” said Deputy Nolan who has written to An Taoiseach, Tanaiste, and Minister for Finance urging them to consider the matter in the run up to the next budget.
