Sir, – Yet again another budget has gone by without a mention of tax relief on childcare for hard-pressed working parents. I’m happy for parents of children aged between three and five who will get a little help but children of primary school age require childcare too.
How much fairer it would have been if the Minister had offered tax relief on childcare so that all working parents would have benefitted. – Yours, etc,
LAURA WEIR,
Clongriffin,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – The increase in duty on tobacco products is to be welcomed.
However, the Minister for Finance has suggested that the projected €61.4 million in additional revenue “will enable the funding of new initiatives in the health sector”.
This is an admirable wish, but with 14 per cent of all cigarettes consumed in the country supplied from the illicit trade imports, with a potential loss of revenue of €200 million, it would make more sense to increase the funding for enforcement. More X-ray scanners are needed urgently at all of our ports. – Yours, etc,
DAVID McCLEAN,
Hollystown,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – Overall, Budget 2016 is the Government’s first family-friendly budget. It will have a positive impact on families with children, particularly those with young children.
The highlights include the extension of free GP care for all children under 12 years and the introduction of two weeks of paid paternity leave. It allows for the extension of the free pre-school year to children upon reaching three years of age, as well as supports within this scheme for children with special needs. Add to this an increase to child benefit and further investment in the Child and Family Agency, the school meals programme and afterschool services.
It’s not all good news, though, and we are disappointed that certain groups of vulnerable children have been left out in the cold. The budget didn’t do enough to prevent family homelessness by increasing the rent supplement limits. This would help to address the homeless crisis whereby 1,500 children are living in emergency accommodation. For the 16th year in a row, the budget offered no increase to the weekly payment of €9.60 for the 1,500 children living in direct provision. This is at odds with the recommendation of the working group report on direct provision and asylum, published in June. We are hopeful, though, that the Government will remedy this in the short term. – Yours, etc,
TANYA WARD,
Chief Executive,
Children’s Rights Alliance,
Red Cow Lane,
Smithfield, Dublin 7.
Sir, – It would appear that the Government has once again ignored the advice of the Fiscal Council in preparing the recent budget. Given that this is not the first time the Government has ignored such advice, perhaps it is time for the Government to abolish the council. At least Enda Kenny would be then able to point to one quango that he had abolished, given his failure to honour his promise to slash the number of such bodies. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN CULLEN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – The Irish media rightly complained about the cuts to public services over the years of austerity. It has after the recent budget, however, started complaining that too much is being spent.
This is the same media that declared the Celtic Tiger budgets “responsible” and declared those who raised questions about them to be “whingers”. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton, Dublin 13.
Sir, – I’ve enjoyed the double act of Noonan and Howlin over the years. One-man (or one-woman!) budgets just won’t be the same. – Yours, etc,
ANNE MURPHY,
Bray, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – In a populist move, the Government has increased the national minimum wage to €9.15 per hour. This is a stitch-up of employers, entrepreneurs and the self-employed in Ireland. – Yours, etc,
J MURPHY,
Limerick.
Sir, – A whole €3 added on to my weekly pension. Three hundred cent! What to do? Indulge in a half-decent weekly cigar? Maybe lash out on half a bale of briquettes for a bit of extra warmth? Or pop it in the piggy bank for the rainy day when the water bill arrives? Decisions, decisions! – Yours, etc,
JOHN QUINN,
Clarinbridge ,
Co Galway.