Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin's approach to the budget was one that had fairness at its heart. Our proposals sought to provide for people based on need at a time when they are hardest hit by the increased cost of living. This is why, unlike the Government's focus on enabling the better off to benefit from additional tax reliefs, we focused on those who need the most assistance and on providing for them. One example was our intention to abolish USC on the first €45,000 earned, starting this year with the first €30,000. This is where the inequality is. Through its range of tax measures, the Government has enabled someone on €180,000 a year to benefit three times as much as someone earning €35,000 a year. How is that fair? It does not stop there. The benefit of the renters' tax credit announced by the Government will be limited because it is not coupled with a cap on rents. As a result, the tax credit will be eaten up by ongoing rent increases, which ran at 10.7% in Tipperary in the past year alone. While announcing this half-baked measure for renters, the Government singled out some of the highest earners in society for additional tax reliefs, including increased tax breaks for landlords.

I support the extension of the reduced 9% VAT rate for gas and electricity. We called for it in our alternative budget. While one measure was taken, a number of other measures we called for were not taken. The Government aligned itself with corporate profits over the needs of householders by refusing to apply a windfall tax on electricity companies. This allowed those companies to keep record profits while households were left to deal with electricity prices that were 47% higher than three years ago, leaving 240,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills.

Vacancy and dereliction are issues across County Tipperary. The current collection regime is not tackling them effectively. The increase in the vacant homes tax from five to seven times the local property tax liability is insignificant. In 2023, the derelict sites list in Tipperary could have raised €30,600 yet only €3,500 was collected. Out of €72,893 in vacant sites levies nothing was raised. To make this directive have a real impact on the vitality of our towns and villages, Sinn Féin would transfer responsibility for the derelict sites levy to Revenue and increase the rates of both. To incentivise the owners of vacant or derelict properties to either use, rent or sell the properties, the consequences of not doing so must have real teeth. The current provisions fail to do this. We would make them work in the interests of our communities.

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