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BUDGET 2016 HAS been unveiled and the reaction is mixed.
The budget, which has been widely described as a ‘giveaway budget’, confirmed many of the predictions and kites that were flown in the coming days and weeks.
It brought tax cuts, free GP care to under 12′s and a boost to the minimum wage.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Minister for Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin unveiled a €3 boost the old age pension, while the Christmas bonus was restored by 75%.
So how did you fare in the final budget of this current Government before the general election?
Here’s the breakdown on the winners and losers.
WINNING: Workers
Michael Noonan says all workers will get an additional week’s wages due to the tax changes made in today’s budget.
From January 1, around 42,500 workers will be completely removed from paying the Universal Social Charge, USC, while the entry threshold will increases from €12,012 to €13,000.
USC Rates will be cut from 1.5% to 1%, from 3.5% to 3% and from 7% to 5.5%.
Minister Brendan Howlin also confirmed that the minimum wage will be increased to €9.15 an hour from January 1.
In terms of job creation, 2,260 new teachers will come on stream in 2016, including 600 new resource teachers while an extra 600 gardaí are to be recruited next year.
LOSING: Jobseekers under 25
There will also be no increase in the jobseeker’s allowance for under-25s, which was cut to €100 in Budget 2014.
WINNING: Pensioners
LOSING: Start ups
The Budget has been criticised for not supporting start ups. It has been described as ‘incredibly disappointing’ and as encouraging startups to leave Ireland.
WINNING: Social welfare recipients
The Christmas bonus, which was partially restored last year, has been increased by 50% for people on weekly long-term social welfare payments.
Today’s announcement means a jobseeker receiving €188 a week will get an extra €141 at Christmas.
LOSING: Smokers
The price of cigarettes is to rise by 50c, bringing the cost of a 20-pack to €10.50.
Retailers Against Smuggling say this move means that smugglers are ‘laughing all the way to the bank’.
WINNING: Parents
Child Benefit will go up by €5 a month to €140 next year and the Respite Care Grant has also been restored.
It was also announced that fathers will get a paid paternity leave of two weeks from September of next year.
In childcare, it was revealed that all children will avail of free preschool/childcare from age 3 to 5 and a half or when they start primary school.
While 8,000 childcare places were announced to support parents in low paid employment.
LOSING: People who wanted a tax of fizzy drinks
The sugar tax didn’t happen, despite the fact that the Health Minister Leo Varadkar had written to the Minister Noonan asking for a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in an effort to tackle obesity.
Irish Heart Foundation said “by failing to introduce a tax on sugar sweetened drinks the Government is prioritising the wealth of multinational companies over the nation’s health and particularly the health of children”.
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I know it’s a bit off the point but labour trying to defend job bridge is farcical. It completely plays into the hands of unscrupulous employers who instead of creating real positions and paying a real wage totally take advantage of desperate people who really want to work.
3/5 finding full time work through it would seem to bely that notion. Not to say that there aren’t numerous cases where it has been abused. It’s also done good in many cases.
Ireland now have the shameful position of the 2nd highest level of low paid workers in the OECD thanks to this government.
Spin it what ever way you want but when a family cant earn enough to feed and clothe themselves its the FIS that they turn to.
The government are encouraging low pay to massage live reg figures to churn out crap like 3/5 in “jobs” when it should be looked at along side how many of these people now also have to claim Family Income Supplement and still be at the poverty line. Job bridge = slavebridge.
@David, which report or piece of research found that 3/5 participants end up in full-time paid employment having completed their Jobbridge internship?
David don’t get sucked in by the figures they are highly massaged.
A labour TD accusing someone of backtracking now that’s laughable labour are experts at it but thankfully not for much longer labour are finished.
It seems Labour TDs are the ones clutching at straws trying to save their political hides before the next General Election.
Hmm, people not trusting what Gerry Adams says…..
They don’t seem to trust Labour either, very surprising.
No real surprise. Sinn Fein flip flop on most things. Just 3 weeks ago Pearse Doherty stated in morning Ireland that the abolition of water charges was not a red line issue for them to go into government coalition. 3 weeks on in the run up to a by election, they want to abolish it. Whatever is popular is their policy…
The labour party what, they’d know all about “chopping and changing key policies.”
What? That’s not like Gerry to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth.
Expect loads of smears against SF following todays opinion poll. FFFG are getting desperate.
Labour are terrified, they are on the brink of extinction. 24% for Sinn Fein. Its not trinners for winners, its shinners for winners today.
Mary Lou can claim both of those fine accolades.
Labours desperation is palpable.
Labor = Lacky Dogs . (apologies to mongrels and bitches everywhere)
When I first heard about Jobsbridge I thought it was a good idea, however it is incredibly flawed, nearly every store in my town uses it for free workers, they are to work 39 hours for an extra 50€ a week, granted you work for your dole money also but that still puts it below the minimum wage, the Jobsbridge scheme should be paying €100-150 plus for 39 hours a week work, this is bordering slave labour, I don’t see how it’s fair to have people working for so little money especially when all the jobs that used to be paid well are now a Jobsbridge scheme.
a TD asking a question on behalf of a constituent how very dare he!
This is a nothing piece of inter cert standard reporting, are would be’ Indo’ reporters working for the journal? 300 words about nothing and yet clouded in inferences displaying an agenda more appropriate for O’Brien’s tabloid rag than the Journal.
Do you honestly think the Journal isn’t every bit as agenda-driven as O’ Brien’s?
They are both now as bad as each other, SF are effectively the new FF and like the others not to be trusted whatsoever.
Anyone criticizing Gerry is a troll and must be silenced.
Unleash the dogs!
Early shift at the spintank today I see.
John why as a FG supporter would you defend Adams?
The concept of Job bridge seemed to be fine , It seems that many employers abuse the system and have no intentions of ever offering anyone a job at the end of there term .
Good old Ireland
Yes but their leaders did say they would pay water tax despite the “party stance” suggesting it be scraped, if that’s not hypocrisy i don’t know what is!
Sweeping government generated statistics bely the reality of the situation David.
As someone who was offered a permanent position through jobbridge I can only say good things about the scheme. That said it is open to abuse by employers.
JobsBridge was and is a great idea. Its implementation and criteria were unfortunately put together by morons. They should roll it out with with more definition and an onus on employers. It should not be allowed to be abused by the likes of mushroom and potato growers as is the case today.
Honestly is a politician not allowed change his mind or admit when their wrong.
Well FG seem to be ok with changing their minds on water charges.
I am 30 years old, I worked for 7 almost 8 years when I finnished school had a good job worked my way up through a company went to college when the down turn hit and got my honours degree. It’s wasn’t easy. Paying bills, paying for a house like most people but I worked hard. I started a jobbridge as I couldn’t find anything else local and I have to say it’s a total let down. Was told on a Friday to start on the Monday but they had nothing set up for me when I got there. I got to spend 3 days looking at a computer that didn’t work, I was stuck in a corner of an office all day. I can’t help but think if I was getting a weekly wage and not on jobbridge I wouldn’t be left and forgotten. My skills, education, experience would be getting used… It’s a daily occurrence as well.
have your say