Kerry councillor “absolutely appalled” by lack of support for working people in budget

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has said she is “absolutely appalled” by the lack of support for the working man in Tuesday’s budget.

Councillor Marie Moloney welcomed some measures, such as the increase in carers allowance income threshold, but was otherwise dismayed by the package as a whole.

“What I’m absolutely appalled at in that there was nothing for the working man. Nothing at all,” she said.

There will be no one-off energy credits next year, which have been running since 2022.

Between April 2022 and February 2025, Irish households received nine credits worth €1,500 to ease the cost of their electricity bills, costing the government a total of €3bn.

Ms Moloney lamented the loss of this aid for ordinary people struggling to pay for the increasing price of electricity.

She also pointed out the rise in carbon tax which will see petrol and diesel rise 2.5c per litre.

“Nearly every working person has to drive to go work. So instead of helping them in any way, they’ve put penalties on them,” she said.

Councillor Paul Daly expressed similar concerns around the cost of living and said people will find this winter “very tough”.

Last year the government cut USC from 4pc to 3pc, increased main tax credits by €125 and increased the standard tax rate cut-off point by €2000 to €44,000.

This year’s budget has no such reduction in taxes for Irish workers, with inflation effectively resulting in higher taxes.

“Sinn Fein has been calling for the scrapping of USC for the first 40,000. That’s not going to happen, there’s no tax cuts there for anyone,” said Mr Daly.

“A change of government is needed and this budget proves it.”