More money in peoples’ pockets
This budget will ensure people start to see the real benefits of recovery with money in their pockets.Low and middle income earners in particular will notice an increase in take-home pay as a result of changes to the Universal Social Charge bands, with a further 80,000 low paid workers removed from paying USC altogether. This means a total of 410,000 low-paid workers will pay no USC at all.
Those on social welfare will see the return of the Christmas bonus, at a 25% rate, and all families will benefit from a €5 per child increase in Child Benefit.
It’s hugely important to note increases in Child Benefit and the Living Alone Allowance for older people, have been brought about by savings in the Department’s 2014 Budget as more people go off the Live Register and back to work.
Good news for education and public service recruitment
As a teacher, I welcome the protection of class sizes again in Budget 2015 and the announcement that 1,700 new teaching staff will be hired next year. This includes nearly 1,000 teachers, 400 teaching assistants and 300 special needs assistants. This will allow our schools to keep pace with the demographic demands being placed on them over recent years.
Budget 2015 will also bring a targeted end to the public service embargo, with 200 further Garda recruits by the end of the year and the opportunity for each Government department to make their own decisions on recruitment for the first time.
Measures to tackle the housing crisis
As a public representative, I deal with people who are facing very difficult housing situations. I welcome the €800 million for social housing in 2015, and €2.2 billion in total over the next three years.
These are the kind of measures that are urgently needed to tackle the housing crisis. Overall, this large-scale investment will fund 10,000 housing units by 2018.
Budget 2015 marks the end of the austerity era. It is balanced and fair and, importantly, is not a return to the boom and bust economics of the past. We must continue to work so this economic the recovery is felt by all in our society.
More information and resources
You can read more about Budget 2015, view resources and infographs here: http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2015/2015.aspx
