Government must consider amending the Finance Bill 2023 to give effect to a number of additional reforms urgently required by low-to-middle income households as well as by businesses in need of more effectively targeted financial supports.
That was the view put forward by the Independent TD for Cork South-West Michael Collins during a debate on the Bill in the Dáil on Tuesday 21st March.
Deputy Collins said that while he welcomed a number of the measures contained in the legislation such as the extension of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality and tourism sector, and the extension of a number of agri-tax relief schemes, there was also a renewed need to consider extending the Fuel Allowance payment which is due to end on April 10.
The Independent TD also said that it was way past time for Government to introduce a programme of reforms related to carers payments and in particular the need to address the inequities created by the existing means-test:
“There are a number of measures the Bill provides for that I can certainly welcome given the ongoing crisis in energy prices and the threats posed by unsustainable levels of taxation,” said Deputy Collins.
“That being said, it is difficult not to see the Bill as a lost opportunity for Government in which it could finally have tackled the need to address the carers means test issue, including how family carers can be reimbursed for costs associated with care.”
“Then there is the clear need to deliver an extension of the Fuel Allowance in a targeted way to elderly or low-income households that are being crushed by the financial weight of heating of their homes.”
“At the local authority level, the Government also lost its chance to provide desperately needed additional roads funding for west Cork.”
“These are all outcomes that this Government could have delivered if the political will was there. Unfortunately, the Bill as it was presented to us showed that such political will continues to be absent,” concluded Deputy Collins.