A group of Independent TDs has urged the Government to use Budget 2023 to “put more money into people’s pockets” and to support households and businesses dealing with soaring energy costs.
During a meeting with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath on Wednesday, the Regional Independent Group called for social welfare increases matching the rising cost of living and income tax changes that make work pay.
They also outlined a proposal to provide free public transport for students, those on Post-Leaving Cert courses and apprentices, which they said could be introduced before the end of the year.
With the Government — temporarily at least — losing its Dáil majority before the summer recess, the votes of the eight-strong group, convened by Roscommon-Galway TD Denis Naughten, would help the Coalition insure against any further unforeseen losses of Government TDs.
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Mr Donohoe and Mr McGrath were presented with a document outlining measures the group would like to see feature in the budget.
Mr Naughten said after the meeting that the Ministers noted how members of the group had supported Government efforts to pass budgets and finance bills previously and that some of their suggested measures had been reflected in previous announcements.
“They recognise that we, as Independent TDs, will have to weigh up the content of the budgets on Budget day,” he added.
Among the measures the group wants to see is a State-sponsored loan scheme with 0 per cent interest rates to help households bridge the gap between State grants for deep home energy efficiency retrofits.
They also want a scheme offering grants of up to €30,000 for renovating vacant homes — currently limited to towns and villages — extended to rural locations, and a €50 million fund to support farmers in adopting innovative practices to reduce carbon emissions.
Mr Naughten said that in broad terms the group wants cost of living issues addressed and to “put more money into people’s pockets”.
He called for anomalies in the tax system to be removed to ensure “people are always financially better off going into employment, rather than remaining on welfare”.
“Housing was another big issue that we raised with the Ministers and, of course, the overall cost of utility both in business and for families,” he said.
Another member of the group, Galway West TD Noel Grealish, said small businesses were experiencing “huge costs” related to energy. He gave an example of a supermarket where the energy cost is usually €145,000 per year and is now expecting to pay €300,000.
He called for measures to help businesses with energy costs as their rising bills have a “knock-on effect to customers”.
Louth TD Peter Fitzpatrick also called for supports for businesses facing high electricity costs, while Kildare South TD Cathal Berry sought that more school buses be laid on to deal with the shortage of spaces on services in rural areas.
Waterford TD Matt Shanahan requested greater intensive care unit bed capacity in hospitals and special clinics for those with long Covid.
The group’s other TDs are Galway East’s Seán Canney, who is seeking increased Disability Allowance payments; Tipperary deputy Michael Lowry; and Wexford’s Verona Murphy.
