Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor D. McGuinness, has criticised the Government’s Budget, saying it fails Waterford families while providing insufficient investment in the infrastructure, housing and community facilities the county needs.

Deputy McGuinness said:

“This could have been a Budget to make life more affordable. Instead, for the second year running, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have left the majority of workers worse off.

“Families are facing relentless increases in the cost of food, fuel, energy, rent and housing. Yet after years of record tax receipts, this Government has failed to tackle the costs making life so unaffordable.

“More than 1.5 million workers are being left behind, receiving less than €250 over the year. That is less than €5 a week. For many families, it will be gone before they even receive it.

“Renters have been left with a €150 increase in the renters’ tax credit, while major developers continue to benefit from significant tax breaks. Home heating oil has increased by around €700 a fill this year, yet the Government’s response is a reduction of less than €43.

“The Fuel Allowance changes are also deeply disappointing, with recipients receiving €12 less over the winter than last year. Students and people with disabilities have also been left waiting for meaningful support.

“This is a Government spending significant sums of money without properly tackling the costs that are making life unaffordable.

“Sinn Féin proposed a different approach, including cutting USC on the first €40,000 earned by every worker, removing carbon tax from home heating oil, restoring energy credits, reducing food and fuel costs, increasing support for renters and investing properly in affordable housing.

“For Waterford, there is a further failure to provide the investment and certainty our county needs. We need progress on the N25, investment in community facilities, proper funding for local services and, critically, a major increase in the delivery of affordable and social housing across County Waterford.

“There is also still a lack of certainty around the investment needed in University Hospital Waterford and our wider transport infrastructure, including BusConnects Waterford.

“Waterford families deserve better. This Budget was an opportunity to use the State’s strong finances to make life more affordable and invest in the infrastructure our communities need. Instead, once again, people are being asked to pay more while getting far too little in return.”