The Social Democrats have launched their Alternative Budget 2025 \u2013 titled \u2018Building Services, Building Communities\u2019 \u2013 which focuses on investment in public services to drive down the cost of living, targets support at those who need it most and prioritises children and families.<\/p>\n
Investing in affordable housing; creating a public model of childcare; increasing parent\u2019s benefit to cover the first 12 months of a child\u2019s life; genuinely free education; targeted supports to those who are really struggling; and increasing core social welfare rates by \u20ac25 are the key measures in the party\u2019s pre-Budget document, published today (September 26).<\/p>\n
Party Leader Holly Cairns said:<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day, for weeks, Government parties have been flying kites about budget measures, but we know they will follow the same playbook as previous budgets \u2013 spreading money around so thinly that nobody really notices and failing to invest in public services that would make a real difference to people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis lack of ambition and lack of imagination is why so many people feel left behind \u2013 and that the country is no longer working for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a different approach. We do not want to waste the opportunity that significant budget surpluses represent to transform people\u2019s lives in the long-term and lift people out of poverty. To do that, we must invest in public services that have been starved of resources for more than a decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must also target supports at those who need them most, increasing core social welfare rates by \u20ac25 while targeting additional supports at children and adults who are living in poverty. Last year, the number of children in deprivation increased by 15 per cent. This is an indictment of this Government and would not happen were the Social Democrats in office.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, the Government spent just an additional \u20ac64m on disability services. Our budget would spend approximately 10 times this amount to introduce a \u20ac30 weekly cost of disability benefit; address shameful waiting lists for services; and build capacity to help disabled people lead independent lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur budget is underpinned by equity and fairness; a focus on investment in children and families; and using State resources to the build quality public services that everyone can benefit from \u2013 rather than disproportionate benefits accruing to the highest income earners.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland is a rich country, but there is huge inequality. We must grasp the opportunity to address this now \u2013 and this is what our budget does.\u201d<\/p>\n
Key measures proposed in the Alternative Budget include:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Building 12,000 new social homes and 10,000 affordable homes \u2013 including 5,000 cost rental and 5,000 affordable purchase homes.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Extending paid Parent\u2019s Leave by four weeks per parent to cover the first 12 months of a child\u2019s life and increasing weekly Maternity, Adoptive, Paternity and Parent\u2019s Benefit Payments to \u20ac350.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Begin rolling out a public model of childcare
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Increasing core social welfare payments by \u20ac25 per week.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Raising the Qualified Child Increase, paid to the most vulnerable children, for over 12s and under 12s by \u20ac15 and \u20ac6 respectively.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Introducing a \u20ac30 per week Cost of Disability payment.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Making primary and secondary education in Ireland fully free.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A phased reduction of third level student contribution fees, starting with a \u20ac1,000 decrease for 2025.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Funding for extra posts across GP services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and community therapies to build capacity at primary care level.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Capitalising a Climate Transformation fund that has a focus on off-shore wind energy and a commitment to fit solar panels on 100,000 homes and buildings per year.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u20ac1 off-peak fares for public transport
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rolling out free GP care for under 12s.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A major investment in primary care and e-health
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Increasing tax credits by \u20ac450<\/p>\n
Social Democrats finance spokesperson R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government regularly talks about putting money back in people\u2019s pockets. These days, however, this phrase seems to mean tax cuts for the better off, with a focus on changing tax bands which gives the same benefit to the highest earners as it does to middle-income households, while offering nothing to those on low incomes. This needs to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile it\u2019s important to give some relief to households while prices are still rising. The majority of available resources should be invested in public services and reductions in the cost-of-living in areas like housing, healthcare, childcare, education, transport and energy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost-of-living crisis we have experienced this decade has been significantly exacerbated by the decades of underinvestment that preceded it. We must address the chronic deficits that exist across our public services. That is our priority.\u201d<\/p>\n