Oct 08
17
ALL PAIN & NO GAIN FOR IRISH FAMILIES
The desperate and unfair measures as presented in the Fianna Fail budget this Tuesday, will make a bad situation worse. Like our parents before us, another generation are now being forced to mortgage their children’s future to pay for the waste of a Fianna Fáil Government. The Government chose the easy road – tax hikes on families and businesses and cutbacks in vital infrastructure programmes.
Fine Gael had set out an alternative to this Government’s penal and self-defeating measures, centred around cutting borrowing, controlling public sector pay and rooting out the waste and inefficiency in Government spending programmes.
To see the alternative Fine Gael plan, visit www.finegael.ie
An attack on the elderly
125,000 people over 70 with non-means tested medical cards, will lose their benefits
A 2% health levy on thousands of pensioners who lose the medical card
Big cuts in tax relief for supporting elderly parents in care (adding €10,000 to a family already paying €50,000 per year)
An Attack on Education and the Young
A big cut in the school building programme
200 fewer primary school teachers, increasing the pupil-teacher ratio by 1
200 fewer secondary school teachers, increasing the pupil teacher ratio by 1
College education fees hiked by €600 to €1,500
Child benefit for 18 year olds halved in 2009 and eliminated in 2010, making it harder for lower-income families to send children to college
An extra €3,000 in taxes and charges on families struggling to meet rising bills
New 1% “Lenihan Levy” on Income (assuming family income of €60k)…….. €600
Higher University Registration Fees……………………………………………………….. €600
Higher Taxes on Consumers (VAT. Excise, Betting Duty)………………………… €355
Cut in Non-First Time Buyer Mortgage Interest Relief……………………………… €300
Failure to Index Personal, PAYE and Stay at Home Credits………………….. ….€286
Reduced Tax Relief on Medical Expenses (down from 41% to 20%)…………. €210
New Parking Tax for Commuters………………………………………………………….. €200
Higher School Transport Costs for School Children………………………………… €132
Higher Public Hospital Charges (A&E up 50% and Bed Charge up 14%)……………€43
Failure to Index Standard Rate Band (more income taxed at higher 41% rate)…… €125
Higher Drugs Payment Threshold (from €90 to€100)……………………………….. €120
New Airport Travel Tax (€10 per flight)……………………………………………………. €94
Higher Employee PRSI Ceiling (more personal income subject to 4% PRSI)………….. €52
Higher Motor Tax (1.6 Ltr)…………………………………………………………………….. €20
