Sinn Féin spokesperson on rural affairs, community development and the Gaeltacht, Conor D. McGuinness TD, has said Budget 2027 must finally put workers and families first, 

The Waterford TD said this budget needs to make life affordable, by cutting the cost of food, fuel, energy, and raising a family.

Teachta McGuinness said:

“Budget 2027 needs to put workers and families first. It needs to make life affordable, by cutting the cost of food, fuel, energy, and raising a family.

“This budget will be judged immediately on whether it makes life better for ordinary people in Waterford, the wider South East, and right across the state. Wages have stagnated for the last 5 years. Pensions and other payments have not kept pace with inflation. People don’t just feel worse off; many are worse off.

“That is why Sinn Féin is proposing measures that put money back into people’s pockets, including the introduction of an Everyday Essentials Card, further cuts on fuel, the return of energy credits, and a second tier of child benefit.

“The proposal are contained in a Sinn Féin alternative budget to make life affordable, which was unveiled today by my colleagues Pearse Doherty and Mairéad Farrell. 

“We need to see a fair tax package for workers that abolishes the USC for all workers on the first €40,000 they earn. That is the fairest way to ensure workers are not left behind.

“Nowhere is the cost-of-living crisis felt more than in housing. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents sold renters out with their rent hike legislation.

“We would reverse that damage by banning rent increases and doubling the Rent Tax Credit to €2,000, paid for through a tax on vulture funds.

“But affordability is not just about this year. We need major investment to bring down costs permanently. That means a step change in housing delivery and investment in green energy.

“Sinn Féin has set out a fair and sustainable plan to deliver that change.

“Budget 2027 must finally put workers and families first. It needs to make life affordable by cutting the cost of food, fuel, energy, and raising a family.”

Sinn Féin would:

• Cut food costs by introducing an Everyday Essentials Card worth €500 for 1 million households.
• Cut fuel costs by scrapping all planned carbon tax increases and delivering a further 10 cent reduction per litre at the pumps for petrol and diesel.
• Cut energy costs by removing carbon tax from home heating oil.
• Reintroduce energy credits at a rate of €400.
• Introduce a new tier of child benefit rates which would help 400,000 children.
• Cut the USC for every worker on the first €40,000 they earn.
• Help renters by doubling the renters tax credit to €2,000.

ENDS

Note: Sinn Féin has published a fully costed alternative budget, which is available at https://sinnfein.ie/budget-2027/