BUDGET
2019
Colm
BROPHY TD Tel: 01-6183196
A Responsible & Affordable Budget Fine Gael in Government manage the public finances responsibly Provide significant additional capital investment to enhance the growth potential of our economy and to improve the quality of life for our people
INVESTING NOW FOR THE FUTURE
Protect the most vulnerable in our society and promote real and sustainable increases in living standards for all Prepare the economy for Brexit - responsible budgetary policy is the best preparation
Budget 2019 will deliver the largest increase in capital investment in a decade. We will invest an additional €1.5bn to provide more & better schools, hospitals, primary care and public transport for our people. This is almost a 25% increase bringing overall capital spending to €7.3bn in 2019.
CAREFUL & RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC FINANCES We will continue to manage the public finances in a careful and responsible way by balancing the Budget for the first time since 2007. When the economy is growing, we will run surpluses and use them to pay down debt and build up the Rainy Day Fund (€500m p.a.), to protect ourselves in the long-term. And we will continue to enhance living standards through steady and sustainable increases in day to day Government spending. We are cutting borrowing so that we are more prepared for future risks, not least Brexit.
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DELIVERING LASTING PROSPERITY TO ORDINARY WORKERS AND FAMILIES The entry band to the higher 40% rate of income tax is being increased by €750 to €35,300 for a single worker. The USC has been cut again: the 4.75% rate reduced to 4.5%. Self-employed: increased ‘Earned Income Tax Credit’ by €200 to €1,350; and will become eligible for Jobseeker’s Benefit from Quarter 4, 2019. We will increase the minimum wage to €9.80, the 5th time that Fine Gael has increased it.
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BUILDING A STRONGER SAFETY NET THROUGH GOOD QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES & SUPPORT FAMILIES Education -- a 7% increase in budget to €10.8bn; 1,300 extra school posts in 2019, of which 372 are teachers and 950 are Special Needs Assistants; 5% increase in capitation for schools. Childcare -- increase in Affordable Childcare Scheme to now benefit parents earning up to €60,000; €300 increase in home carers tax credit; 2 extra weeks of parental leave, with plans to increase it to 7 extra weeks over time. Justice -- 800 new Gardaí in 2018, after 2,200 the last 3 years; further civilianisation to free up Gardaí; investment in ICT & vehicles.
Elderly -- €5 p.w. increase in pension, an €18 total increase over the last 4 Budgets; €5m increase in Free Travel Scheme; 1 week increase in Fuel Allowance. Cut prescription charges. Vulnerable -- €5 p.w. increase in all social welfare (from next March), including carers, unemployed & disability allowance. A child poverty package: Qualified Child Allowance up €2.20 (u12s) or €5.20 (o12s), Back to School Allowance up €25, increased thresholds for Working Family Payment & One Parent Family Payment. Fully restored Christmas bonus.
HOUSING The total housing budget in 2019 will be almost €2.4bn, a 26% increase. This investment will see the housing needs of almost 27,400 households being met in 2019. €1.25bn to provide 10,000 new social homes in 2019 (build, acquisition and long-term leasing); bringing the total to 30,700 since 2016. €121m increase in budget for the Housing Assistance Payment -- for an extra 16,760 new tenancies in 2019.
€60m capital spend to tackle homelessness, including additional emergency accommodation Tax incentive of 100% interest relief for landlords to increase rental supply. €310m over 3 years for Serviced Sites Fund to support local authorities in bringing forward lands for subsidised, more affordable housing; will deliver around 6,000 affordable homes.
HEALTH Highest ever health budget of €17bn. €200m for the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy, to reform our health system. An expansion of free GP care, which could benefit up to 100,000 people. 100 new therapists to improve assessments of children with special needs.
€75m, a 36% increase for the National Treatment Purchase Fund to reduce waiting lists. Cap on family’s monthly Drugs Payment Scheme bill to be reduced by €10 to €124. Prescription charges for over 70s will be reduced by 50 cent to €1.50 per item. A total €1bn for mental health services, a 9% increase over 2018.
BREXIT A €300m Human Capital Initiative, 2020 to 2024, for sectors / regions vulnerable to Brexit. A €300m Future Growth Loan Scheme for SMEs and the agriculture and food sector. This builds on the €300 million invested through the Brexit Loan Scheme last year.
Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie
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Over €110m for Brexit measures across Departments, including funding for essential customs requirements and other targeted measures. €1.2m extra for PEACE programme, to support peace & economic stability in Border region.
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ColmBrophyFineGael
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