Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In 2020, it was €120 per sq. ft. to build a house and, today, it is anywhere from €180 to €200 per sq. ft. Given taxes at 23% on a 2,000 sq. ft. house, the Government was taking €4,600 in VAT but is now taking €9,200 because the base cost of that house has gone from €240,000 plus VAT to €380,000 plus VAT. It is the same house but the Government is taking more tax.

What is happening is that people in this country work and they pay taxes, but they do not qualify for anything. What I am looking for is a reward for somebody who works. I am talking about people who go out and work, pay for their mortgage, pay for their house and are no burden to the State. These people work for the vulnerable people, for the people who cannot work and they have no problem what. All they want is a reward system so they have something left at the end of the week and can say “I have something.” They do not complain but there is no reward for a person in this country who works. That is what I am trying to say to the Tánaiste. They are taxed out of existence, no matter what way they go.

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