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A NEW MIDDLE rate tax band should be looked at to help with the rising cost of living, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has indicated.
Pressure is mounting on the Government to do more to ease the rising cost of living, particularly as petrol and diesel costs jumped above the €2 a litre mark.
Speaking in Dundalk yesterday, the minister said the Government did not have a “magic money tree” to help with the soaring costs of fuel.
Despite calls from the opposition for a mini Budget this summer, the minister indicated that the budgetary process is where the Government would make changes to deal with the crisis.
Humphreys threw her support behind comments made by her party leader and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar recently, where he said a new middle rate tax band could help cushion the blow of inflation on the squeezed middle.
Varadkar suggested that a third 30% rate of income tax could help middle-income earners and has asked the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe examine whether it could be introduced.
He said there might be a case for having a middle rate of 30% for people on middle incomes so the higher rate of 40% would only kick in for higher earnings.
Speaking about what more the Government could do to ease the impact of inflation on people, Humphreys said “a lot of these things have to be taken into consideration” ahead of Budget Day in October.
“We know that we often talk about the squeezed middle and it’s how we can perhaps improve their income tax situation, because suddenly you’re on 20% and then you jumped to 40%. So again, there is space there,” she said, indicating that a middle income band should be looked at as part of the collective solution to dealing with the cost of living crisis.
Budget 2023
Budgetary kite flying generally kicks off later in the summer months, however, due to inflation on the rise, discussions are already underway as to what further actions the Government can take to take the load off people.
Earlier in the year, the Government announced a support package of €2.5 billion, which included a cut in the excise on diesel and on petrol, a reduction in VAT on gas and electricity, and reducing public transport fares by 20%.
However, opposition parties are quick to point out that much of the measures have been gobbled up already with the rising inflation, and have been calling for more radical action.
One way of attempting to put more money in people’s pockets is through increasing State supports and reducing the cost of services, which is understood to be the main focus for Budget 2023 this October.
As reported by The Journal in April, one of the main focuses for the Government is childcare, with plans to increase childcare subsidies significantly in order to reduce the cost of childcare for parents.
On average, parents are paying nearly €800 per month per child for childcare.
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report for 2020/21 found recently that the average weekly fee nationally per child for full day childcare is €186.84.
With core funding promised for the sector as well as pay agreements, the aim is to cap childcare fees.
Public transport
The Taoiseach has also signalled that further fare reductions for public transport may be be on the cards, particularly for younger people.
It is understood discussions are underway as to whether to extend the 20% reduction out to next year or further extend the percentage reduction.
Budget 2023 will also include a pension and welfare package, with the Government also aiming to reduce college fees, hospital charges and medicine talks.
While Budget Day is five months out, sources state the Government is very aware it must hit the mark and make a difference in people’s’ pockets, given the current pressures on people across the country.
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If ffg follow through on this and ease the pressure on the middle I’ll be the first to the booth to re-elect. We have four young kids and a 10% tax cut wud make a massive difference. Breathing room. People vote for who makes your life that bit easier. It wud also save me from going out and voting for some of the fwits like that lady from Clare who can’t support her family on €140,000. Sweet mother of ……
@Niall Gannon: good job at trying to sound like ” I’m not really a fffg supporter but” …….I’m.just a working guy with 4 kids….Pull the other one…
@Niall Gannon: You must be new at this Niall? Weak enough attempt in fairness. I’ll give you a C-
@Niall Gannon:
You don’t understand how taxation works.
Unless they’re going to totally overhaul the tax system (which is actually quite progressive and fair, even if the amounts aren’t), you’re not going to save 10%.
You pay no tax on some income, 20% once you get to a certain level, then 40% on anything over another level. Putting a 30% rate in the middle (unless they cap it at that) will not save you much.
They’d be far better off cutting out USC. Or changing the bands on it.
@Niall Gannon: people want governments to solve the root cause of costs rising not take the easy way out and tweak taxes. We’re already in €250,000,000,000 of debt – we can just give a tax windfall.
@Niall Gannon: You must be new to this Niall. Agree with any government proposal and you’ll be accused of being a government hack without any attempt to argue the point.
@Niall Gannon: I don’t know how you survive these days. Too well off for any help but not half rich enough to cover costs. It’s shameful. You probably work around the clock and end up worse off than someone on social welfare. Has to change.
@Niall Gannon: you and me both. We need the help the most, we’ve been flahed for years now. Ignore the SF propagandaists above. They don’t mind high taxes on the working class, they’ve never worked a day in their lives.
@Martin O Connell: It must be awful to not be able to think for yourself Marty?
@Niall Gannon: These are the people FF/FG/GP want to attract and see how the 10% seems attractive. A load of B$ They’ll tax you other ways..the lies and the promises that you’ll hear over the next few months.
@David Corrigan: I think independently quiet clearly!!! The housing crisis doesn’t bother me, I have a house. The waiting times in hospitals doesn’t bother me, I have excellent health insurance. I have a good job, I don’t rely on handouts from the state, that’s good also. I’m not r party aligned!!! iE tied to propagandaist negativity like SF, Or the greens or tye PBPs. I’m not tied to labour the PDs, FG or Ff. I’ll vote for the party that’s most likely to improve my quality of life. By reducing my already excessively unfair contributions to tge over all.
@Martin O Connell: That’s all fair enough but do you think FF or FG are part of the great solution you are seeking?
@David Corrigan: neither new nor naive to here. I’m very simply pointing out that if ffg give wiggle room in our house then I’ll vote them back in. Better the “divil” you know and I’m sure that’s what the plotters and planners within want us to do.
I have more to be thinking about than party politics. A country this size shud long be bi/tripartisan with people elected on their merit to do jobs that help the country (not mending potholes and putting speed bumps on St Mary’s Rd because John Murphy’s grandfather fought with Big Mick in the war.)
@Mickety Dee: @David Corrigan: neither new nor naive to here. I’m very simply pointing out that if ffg give wiggle room in our house then I’ll vote them back in. Better the “divil” you know and I’m sure that’s what the plotters and planners within want us to do.
I have more to be thinking about than party politics. A country this size shud long be bi/tripartisan with people elected on their merit to do jobs that help the country (not mending potholes and putting speed bumps on St Mary’s Rd because John Murphy’s grandfather fought with Big Mick in the war.)
@David Corrigan: @David Corrigan: neither new nor naive to here. I’m very simply pointing out that if ffg give wiggle room in our house then I’ll vote them back in. Better the “divil” you know and I’m sure that’s what the plotters and planners within want us to do.
I have more to be thinking about than party politics. A country this size shud long be bi/tripartisan with people elected on their merit to do jobs that help the country (not mending potholes and putting speed bumps on St Mary’s Rd because John Murphy’s grandfather fought with Big Mick in the war.)
@David Corrigan: the likes of you peddling this myth of a great solution is exactly the party political bull??it that I speak of. There is no great solution, tge perfect world/society does not exist. One crowd will pledge this, the other will pledge the opposite. Back the side that best addresses your own parsonal situation, if we all did that we’d be a little happier.
@Martin O Connell: so basically you will continue voting the same party that have taxed you to the hilt the past how many years but hey you have great health insurance
@David Corrigan: people like you might believe that a party is gonna deliver you this grand myth of a great solution to everybody’s problems. It’s a fairy tale. I’ll vote for whoever will cut my takes, remove the PSC, or provide any initiative that will improve my families quality of life.
@Martin O Connell: Well that’s fair enough then. There is no solution. We will never know if we keep voting in proven failures i.e. FF/FG/G and Labour. We are a small island with 5 million people. There is no excuse for how bad things are here with such a small population.
@Brian Burns: let’s be clear!!! Great house, Job, Car, Healty Happy Kids, happy wife IE happy life, not just health insurance. I care for and only give a, about the 3 inches in front of my face. Everyone else can worry about changing the world. I’ll vote for what suits me. The likes of SF, PBP, SDs will never propose anything that will eleviate the burden of the “crucified middle” they only pander to the bottom.
@Martin O Connell: Ok. So you have a great life. We are all delighted for you. There is nothing anyone can say in a debate with you that will change that.
Have a great day Martin. I hope your unbelievable lifestyle continues and you are happy.
@David Corrigan: don’t entertain that clown.
@David Corrigan: thanks David, that makes two of us. I’d like to point out I’m not the only one. This country isn’t the cesspit that we’ve all been lead to believe. A lot are not too bad off, the government have made some good decisions and lessened the burden of these crazy times we find ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, things could be better, a tax reduction for middle income earners would be fantastic in my world. But that’s no something SF or SDs andthe PBPs would even suggest. So my question is. Why would I vote for them????
@Anthony Hilton: if you’ve nothing to add, stay quiet, little man.
@Martin O Connell: I think any decent person would look at the big picture in all fairness. You have a very very selfish attitude.
The housing crisis affects a lot of people. The health care service affects a lot of people. The extremely high cost of living affects a lot of people.
I’d rather a political party who works to try and improve the kip for the majority. Maybe try and open your mind a bit and look at things from where the majority of people are standing?
@David Corrigan: David I’ve been paying taxes for a long time now, I’ve seen very little benefit by looking at the big picture. I’ll continue to pay my taxes I’ve no choice, I’ll vote for the party that best serves my families needs. There’s nothing wrong or selfish in expecting to benefit from my contribution. The middle can’t keep taking the hit.
@Martin O Connell: also, if you genuinely think this country is. a KIP!!! You should hang your head in shame. It never has and never will be a Kip.
@Martin O Connell: It’s a wonderful country with great people but the way it’s managed has turned it into a kip. That’s the start and end of that discussion.
@David Corrigan: Such a small population and so much money kicking about!! If managed properly this country could be an incredible place to live. Instead it’s somewhere where I pay more in tax than some make in income and in some ways my quality of life is not as good as when I was jobless living and studying in Germany! For example, my medical care there was miles better than my health insurance now, though in Irish terms it’s great as it covers medical and dental for both me and my partner.
@David Corrigan: He doesn’t sound very squeezed, does he?
@Niall Gannon: the absolute SMELL of “I’m alright Jack” off some of the replies here.
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: Not sure they’re making much sense either: on one hand they have a great lifestyle, yet they belong to the “crucified middle”, they think government policy created a situation that made it possible for them to proper, yet they reckon they get nothing for their taxes? How do they think this works?
Or get rid of the USC like they promised?
@Gareth Miskelly: my USC is in or around €50 a week since it was introduced, that’s a lot of €50′s.
I’d easily spend that €50 a week if I had it, taking it at source couldn’t possibly have as good a use as spending it on goods or services myself.
@Gareth Miskelly: even if they got rid of usc I can see petrol prices at the pumps staying high. If something is taken away with one hand it has to be replaced with something in the other.
@Dave Barrett: I drive a car and I don’t like fuel prices going up. However is part of our move away from fossil fuel that fuels must go up in price ie. People standard of living falls as energy rises. Is this not the plan in a world of decreasing resources and increasing population. I think people are only now starting to realise the transition to renewables has a cost. Btw I’m not suggesting we do not need to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Only that it has a cost with it.
@Richard Williamson: I think the transition to alternative energy, retro fitting houses, is all fine but who can afford the initial payout out to do so, despite the grant. I certainly am to old to get a loan to do this. With increasing petrol prices, this is an earner for the government coffers. Come this winter there will be fuel poverty, charities will be inundated with people looking for help, and charities themselves will struggle financially as people will have less to donate. One would wonder if we had not sold off our mineral rights off the coast would the country have been in a better position today.
And healthcate waiting lists? Rental cost ,? Cost of housing ? Esb Gas? Costs of BASICS not luxury items,? Any ideas FFFG? I mean that is your job isn’t it,,? Thats what u get paid the big bucks for… to efficiently run out country, to wisely spend our taxes … your paying millions actual millions every week to hoteliers to house people who can’t afford rents, who need support in housing… property developers are building huge amounts of apartments and renting them back to councils at huge cost… running this country into the ground… and you come up with a new tax band as some sort of revelation..
@Patricia O’Brien: of course… Let’s have it all for free and pay little or no taxes… Its just bliss living here in utopia.. Great weather here too… Ffs…….
@JG: If you’re an artificial account then your ‘think-tank’ needs to come up with better tactics. If you’re a real person, do you think that knee-jerk reactions that misrepresent what Patricia O’Brien said are credible, or that no one will notice that you avoided addressing her points.
@JG: why not then at least we’ll have parity with foreign REITs and the banks we all bailed out.
@Patricia O’Brien: don’t worry your party promised everything for free in their 2020 manifesto. If they get in next time then you can put your feet up and money will just drop into your lap thanks to Pearse’s magic money tree.
@GrumpyAulFella: When is FF/FG/G giving the magic money tree back to SF Grumpy?
@David Corrigan: Your Finance spokesperson Pearse has a tight grip on it DC. Has he added abolition of USC as the next chapter in his ladybird book yet? Some of us are on earth others are on Planet Pearse where it’s free everything for everyone.
@GrumpyAulFella: Pearse Doherty you mean? Isn’t he the one who pointed out that the figures were not correct to Michael Noonan? “Leprechaun economics” the international experts called it in between their hearty laughs.
@David Corrigan: yes he’s the same guy who didn’t realise that a Supplementary Welfare Scheme exists in the state and thinks that everyone should get €200 into their hand, without means testing, to cope with hard times. No costings of course. Oh and we should have continuous mini budgets to address global economy changes that adversely impact us. That’s life on Planet Pearse.
@GrumpyAulFella: Ah I think you are making that up now in fairness. Who told you that?
Abolish “the temporary” u.s.c.
Unless there’s a general election before the next budget nothing will change!
@Vlad Eire: The 2011 FG/Labour coalition started an about-turn in budgets two years before the next general election. They went from 3 austerity budgets to 2 vote-winning budgets (the 2nd of which I think was euro 3.5 billion in ‘voter inducements’ against the advice of every economist and independent advice). FG/FF are repeating this process with the aim of heading off SF’s vote.
@David A. Murray: hopefully the electorate these days are a lot more savvy than falling for a few budgets that gloss over the issues by bribing ppl with as little as possible from their own money.
@David A. Murray: whereas SF’s manifesto just promises everything for free. If they get in and suddenly realise that there’s a budget to be managed they’ll reverse their promises of free third level education, free transport, free GP care, subsidised childcare, 100,000 state built houses in 5 years. I don’t really see any difference other than one set is living in the real world and the other is on Planet Pearse.
@M Bowe: I wouldn think so they will buy off the unions first see how that goes
@GrumpyAulFella: All political parties play this same game. At the moment SF are polling very well, so it becomes a priority for FF/FG to undercut their apparent popularity with the public. SF would almost certainly do the same thing if the parties positions were reversed. And SF will make ‘promises’ to the public to increase their chances of getting into government.
@Michael Nolan: Very valid point.
@David A. Murray: that’s exactly my point.
Just rince and repeat folks. Nothing to see here.The majority of the children today will never ever own a home in Ireland. Let that sink in. Absolutely disgusting. Great little country so we are??
@Paul Gorry: currently the home ownership rate in Ireland is about 69%, which actually puts us about mid table within the EU.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/246355/home-ownership-rate-in-europe/
@D. Memery: read the comment again as you’ve completely missed the point.
@Thomas Ryan: I did, I also can do maths, if on average 69% of homes are owner occupied, that means 31% of homes are rented or owned by businesses, funds, etc. 31% is not a majority, therefore, on trends the majority of our children will own their own homes.
@D. Memery: now break down that 69% figure into age categories. How many are young families starting out, if they are in the 62% with under €60k gross PA and FFG are telling them that €320k is affordable houses. Do those sums for us please.
@D. Memery: wonder what it was pre 08
@D. Memery: I wonder what it was pre 2008
@M Bowe: so a young family starting out should expect to be able to buy a house in the capital for €200K? Most families of my age had to move out to the commuter belt back in the late 90s to buy an affordable house to get ourselves on the ladder and then sell up to move closer to the city years later. And there was no option to work from home back then. Are young couples now demanding the right to a €200K house in the capital while they work from home, in a lot of cases?
@D. Memery: “on trends the majority of our children will own their own homes”. I don’t think you understand how trends work. The trend is moving strongly in one direction. People who bought their houses in the 60s, 70s, 80s aren’t reflective of the hopes of kids born today. The trend is that home ownership is increasingly beyond the reach of upcoming generations.
@Podge: so basically the cost of the average house is going up more than the average salary is rising. Why is that? Higher housing standards? Larger homes being built? Wage rates in construction increasing? Less home building?
@Richard Williamson: I think there’s a lot of issues. Huge amounts of regulations that make building more expensive and difficult, a dropoff in the number of tradespeople, lack of regulations in areas that would actually make things cheaper (vacant land tax, fair deal scheme changes), lack of planning, and most recently an increase in materials (this is only adding to the trend that already existed).
@D. Memery: Those figures only relate to ownership of the houses. That doesn’t reflect the point which is people not being able to afford houses. People stuck renting, people stuck living with parents, people leaving the country because they cant afford to live here. They arent captured in your figures.
@Paul Hedderman: neither is the figure for houses being passed back down to family members through inheritance. People seem to forget that every housing unit in the country passes ownership at some stage by means of inheritance. These properties din’t just disappear off the planet when the owner dies. Ir would be interesting to establish how many of these then transfer from owner occupier status to rental status.
@M Bowe: about 30% of the Irish population falls into the age category consistent with young families, excluding the children of those families, when you exclude the 36% of the population too young to own property that would mean a significant proportion of the 69% would be ‘young families’. The figures don’t reflect socio-economic conditions however.
@D. Memery: why are you assuming that the homeownership rate is evenly spread across all age groups? Just because the rate is 69% doesn’t mean that 69% of young families own homes. And that’s not even considering the direction of the trend for people entering first time buyer age.
@Richard Williamson: Many reasons contribute but in simple terms: because we stopped building houses after 2009 and didn’t build any for years. We got started again then stopped for COVID. Result is bugger all houses built and few people to build them.
You could argue that it was chosen as a form of creative destruction that let asset holders off the hook and passed the cost of the bust onto everyone else.
I really don’t know why people listen to these money grabbing parasites anymore.
@Bobby Jones: Cos they’re a sight less money-grabbing than the magic money tree fantasists, who cheerleaders on here would have us believe are going to be in Government, after the 2025 election.
@Eoin Roche: Why so condescending eoin?A change is as good as a rest. You’re just a cheerleader for FFFG which is fair enough. Change is needed that’s my opinion. You come up every time without fail to defend the indefensible FFFG and eamonn??
@Eoin Roche: You must have had a glass or two too many last night Eoin? Your mask slipped ever so slightly.
@Eoin Roche: fffg have been picking from the magic money tree quite a bit, I wonder would it be fair to say that this country is in so much debt because of the way it has been ran? Last time I checked fffg have been running this country since it’s foundation which would lead me to believe that they are actually to blame abd not SF.
The magic money tree excuse to beat SF with is long past it’s sell by date at this stage. It’s a sad state of affairs when a gov minister is advising people to work from home if they can to save money as it’s become unfeasible to drive to work. It just beggars belief that this is happening and all under fffg watch.
Are they going to borrow, or increase taxes in other areas.
@Paul Power: they’re raking it in on fuel by the day
@Paul Power: Yes petrol and diesel will be 3euro a litre so ineffect they will be given you nothing if you drive and live in the country,and with the carbon taxes your increases will actually cost you more than they give,smoke and mirrors,hand over fist is how they work it
How would we pay for this reduction in revenue?
I thought she said we don’t have a magic money tree.
Windfall tax on corporations?
@Dean: probably do what the US does and print money when needed. Of course we cannot do that being in the EU so borrowing the only option.
@Dean: Inflation means they are also taking in more taxes too.
Maybe they could scrap the “temporary” USC instead? Just an idea. Makes me laugh when pols and media constantly only refer to the 20 and 40% tax rates and never even mention the USC any more.
LOL
Without regulation, which they refuse to do, any concessions given to tax payers just means more price rises. Because without regulation theyre raising prices at will, even when there hasn’t been a global effect on increase.
Regardless of whether this is a voting stunt or not it needs to happen. The 40% is very punative now as the band has barely moved in the last 15 years. A 30% is one way of addressing. Though if people think that translates to 10% extra in their pocket I think they may need to sit in with the junior certs doing there revision…..
If they are reducing one said I’m sure we will pay it in tax another side. Getting harder to live here on rubbish salaries. Cost of living going up salaries are not.
So….don’t suppose they’d care to define what a “middle” earner is?
@Graham Manning: average wage is 45k per annum
All the Sinn Fein cheerleaders are out in force this morning trying to defend their homeless TD from Clare who cannot live on 140k per year and 800 euro per month on childrens allowance. FFS
@Tim Quigley: Maybe if you read the story you’d have realised that her complaint is lack of supply, not the inability to pay. But sure you couldn’t have your aul rant if you actually read the story.
@The Bolt: no her complaint was suitability, undefined. She wants a “suitable” house for a family of 8 on her €140K per year plus children’s allowance by 6. She has made her own choices here. Go to any council housing estate in Dublin and ask the mother if she’s happy with her 2 or 3 bed with 8 occupants. Entitlement doesn’t come into it.
@Tim Quigley: literally no one Is defending her. She’s a looper
@GrumpyAulFella: ‘Cost is not an issue, it’s availability’: TD Violet-Anne Wynne on housing https://jrnl.ie/5785978
This article must be incorrect then?
@The Bolt: you’re missing the point. It’s not availability it’s suitability. She wants a large house to accommodate her large family. How many real homeless people get to demand large houses? What is her definition of a large house? 7 beds with one room for each child? Are there no 4 bed houses available for sale in Clare? Daft.ie is reporting 287 houses for sale in Clare at the moment including a 5 bed in Ennis for €300K. I’m sure her €140K pa salary and €840 children’s allowance each month would cover it.
@GrumpyAulFella: You’re making an awful lot of assumptions there, on an article that states ‘cost isn’t the issue, availability is’. Is it because she has something to do with sinn fein is your issue, or the number of children she decided to have?
@The Bolt: she has nothing to do with SF. She was forced out of SF but she actually said suitable. This is a self declared homeless person on €140,000 pa plus €840 in the hand per month looking for suitable housing. There are 287 properties for sale in Clare. I’d like to know what suitable is in her book.
I wouldn’t get too excited about this until I see what the threshold is.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
Wham taxes. Wake me up before we gogo. Thanks for the pensions folks.
I’m not going to get too excited by this until I see the bands tbh. If they keep 20% where it is, replace the current 40% band with the 30%, and then add 40% on earnings over 60k (for example) then that would look better for most people. If they slot 30% in between the current rates and don’t push the higher rate up a bit then a lot of middle income households could be worse off.
Changing tax rates in light petrol and diesel rises is an absolute nonsense. The reason prices are going up is because 80% of the worlds energy comes from fossil fuels, and EVERYTHING from ikea to panties and everything else you can think of are manufactured using energy mostly derived from fossil fuels. The only way forward is invest in alternatve energy sources. Fossil fuels also keep tin pot dicators in power but thats another story.
Terrible
How is keeping the same tax rates on inflated prices of goods and services fair or good for the economy? It will just amount to fewer people spending and only the rich being able to afford anything.
have your say