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IT’S ALL OVER, Budget 2016 has been announced and you’ve been letting us know exactly what you think about it in the comments section.
People were feeling a bit more positive than previous years ahead of today’s speeches:
However, when the news actually came, not everybody was thrilled with the results.
Willr said, “An extra €7.70 a week, barely covers rate of inflation. So nothing really. Just kept same really. Inflation running close to 3% next year. So that cancels a lot of gains out, unfortunately.”
While a lot of people are happy that the Universal Social Charge has been decreased, this comment pretty much sums up the general consensus on it:
Meanwhile, the Christmas Bonus of €141 for jobseekers and €173 for pensioners has been receiving mixed reviews:
This comment from Tongueless Ghost got over 635 green thumbs and 155 red thumbs:
While Ciara Heffernan made this point:
Ever been a single parent who cannot afford to work because of how expensive it is to secure childcare at affordable prices? Trying to make sure your child(ren) doesn’t feel left out because the 200 euro a week just is not enough to cover rent, food, clothes, electricity, heating, toiletries and cleaning products as well as presents from santa?
Here’s what you had to say on the smoking tax which will see a pack of cigarettes rise by 50c from midnight.
Or here’s an idea, if they were serious about any of this (we all know they’re not, but what the hell) they could ring fence the taxes from tobacco products and pump it directly back into the Health Service or smoking prevention. In all likelihood the tax increase on tobacco products will go towards other debts…
A lot of you noted that you thought the priorities of the Government were wrong:
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And people are NOT happy about the lack of investment in Irish start ups:
The Knowledge Development Box also got a dressing down:
So will Budget 2016 affect your vote?
Here’s what you had to say on that score:
While Dustin The Turkey felt the budget had a Celtic Tiger ring to it:
Many of you don’t think your bank account balance is going to get much of an impact:
Some people were happy though, saying it was a change from recent years:
While a lot of people expressed dissatisfaction with how the money was allocated:
Ciaran got a lot of green thumbs for his take on it all:
So what did you make of Budget 2016? Will you be off to ‘buy a Ferrari’ like Ciaran?
Have you say in the comments section below:
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In reality very little was given back. Income tax was not reduced. Tax on Petrol and Diesel was not reduced. The USC cuts were minimal. Motor Tax for ordinary cars was not touched. VRT was not touched. Vat was not touched. So for all the hype in reality its as if their was no budget for middle income earners.
im up 1600 a year, im delighted :)
You must be earning €150,000 + then. Nice money if you can get it but thoes of us on normal incomes this budget may just as well never happened at all.
Mick..add to that they haven’t done anything about the anomaly regarding social welfare entitlements for the self employed and you’re correct..all smoke and mirrors and all of the ‘giveaways’ will be take back if they are in power next budget…keep Edna and his ‘dipidees’ out.
Ignore him Mick..he’s sent in by the FG mother ship to wave the flag every now and then.
No. Hopefully most people will take the miniscule goodies and then vote them out.
It’s not unusual for the rich to look after the rich.
Thanks to FG/Lab policies, the rich are scarce. Definitely not enough of them to vote them back in. Hopefully.
Supernova
Give a credible alternative and people may consider….
So who would you vote in supernova?
Really, Dustin The Turkey?? No prizes for guessing who pays your wages!!
Sinn féin.
@paul @mcmc
Be careful what you wish for. How well has SF looked after the working class in the north. After a few weekof stamping of their feet they rubber stamped the cut imposed by David Cameron. Great socialist they’re are
Not so mickmc try doing a bit of research and you will find that in the 6 counties Sinn Fein are the only large party in the assembly who represent the most vulnerable members of society regardless of religion or class.
Apart from talking waffle how exactly do they help the most “vulnerable members of society”. And by vulnerable do you mean that layabouts that have never none a day work in their lives.
Try reading what I stated brother mc.
Your lacking a lot of detail in your statement. I’m looking for specific how SF have help the vulnerable in both communities in North Ireland
I have family and friends in the 6 counties and that’s what they tell me as I said try doing your own research and don’t be listening to the 26 county politicians who have vested interests in bad mouthing their political rivals.
In other word Paul your waffling.
A fantastic budget. meanwhile SF impose savage cuts on working class people in northern ireland. who are the austerity party again. how many lives has brutal SF austerity taken in northern ireland?
Two tweets above regards 50 million on 1916 commemorative program. 10 million for homeless crisis. Says all really about this scanlous government. Those that fought and died for this freedom will be turning in their graces. Shame on you FG/LAB..
I am praying that these fools don’t get back in. Cuts after cuts and then when an election is due to be called they give the OAP a little Rise and then Christmas bonus is also increased, also the disabled people get their respite back. Looks like these idiots are trying to get voters back. I care for my partner who is blind he wasn’t always blind he held down a full time job.They refuse him the blind pension at first because they said he wasn’t blind even though he was register blind by the eye and ear hospital.we have suffered for the last few years because of all the cuts, we would rather not depend on Social welfare but atm we have no choice. We have two teenage boys and we would love them to contribute to this country but after what I have seen in the last few years ie, bankers and builders getting away with hundreds or thousands of euros and not forgetting Politicans who have robbed this state I have told my sons as soon as they are old enough to get out of Ireland because it is corrupt. I could go on and on but I think everybody who has suffer over the last few years will understand what I am saying
FG popularity is reflective of their fantastic policies. the polls dont lie :)
Just to let everyone know my partner was working since he was 16 , he and I never claimed for anything until he was diagnosed that he was going blind, so let the red thumbs keep hitting because you are either against people that have a disability or against people who are forced onto welfare through no fault of their own. But the red thumbs have to realise that with carers we are saving this government millions. I have to tell my partner all the time were things are , if the cooker is on , if the presses are open etc etc without us carers our hospitals would be packed out all the time. But that’s happening already .
People on €25,000 per year should have the same take home pay as those on €70,000 per year. It makes sense. Well it would if you were a member of one of the loony cults.
und SF proposals every working person would have to adopt a shinner and pay their way in life
That universal social charge should be gone completely!! It was only apparently brought in because of the recession.
Also, free GP care for u6? We pay enough tax in this country for free health care for all like England. Absolute disgrace this country is.
richard i also voted fg in last election as most of my family did..far too much chronyism and too many lies..all our votes for fg are lost next time..how many other people have done the same u think ?
Children with disabilities and carers in a family with a second income were looked after to some extent. Sweet all for adults with disabilities or carers solely relying on 203 a week carers allowance who could be caring up to or over 100 hours a week. The Christmas bonus partly restored and respite restored to what it was years ago. Meanwhile the cost of living has significantly increased. I’m sure most carers would rather their weekly payment reflected the work they do and the billions they save this country than a so-called social welfare bonus.
I have to say I’d love Ends back in. He in my opinion fixed the mess that was left to him.
Richard, no he didn’t fix the mess all all. He followed the agreement set out between FF/troika. Outside factors have also helped, i.e. Weak euro and cheaper energy prices. Kenny et al have been complicit in giving more jobs/contracts etc to the boys. Cronyism and nepotism are alive and well despite all the talk of transparency and new politics. This is simply an election budget. I would also imagine that some scandal will will appear between now and the election and whatever benefits they reap as a result of this giveaway budget will be lost.
So who do you reckon is best to have SF? That’s all the country seemingly wants in but they would ruin it. I think Enda has done well with what he had. Country is well on the way to recovery.
Richard, why would you think I would vote SF just because I think kenny is doing a bad job? I voted FG/Lab in GE 2011. I don’t like people who lie, Kenny lied in order to get into power, he promised the sun, moon and stars and hasn’t delivered. Today’s budget did nothing for those on hospital trolleys, nothing for the homeless. What kind of society do you want Richard?
I voted SF last time,no way would I vote them again,their fantasy economics will ruin what small recovery we have. (although I’m sure they don’t believe half the crapp they say).
If people really believe SF is the answer,look north!they’re doing the opposite to what they preach
the absue scandal and disgraceful coverup turned any decent people away from SF
I wrote on twitter earlier that the actual budget will be judged in relation to disability issues in comparison to the social democrats support for independent living. This being a position which in disability politics is held in common from our far left to our centre right. The budget fails to measure up in this regard. It will not remove disabled people from segregation.
I hope not..
FG are a dead cert to get back in and most likely with labour and a scattering of independents… I’m afraid that’s just the way it is people until a viable alternative is put in place
“No Vasoline” by the esteemed Ice Cube is playing on loop in my brain reading all the budget news.
Not enough alone but I think a few Independents could be convinced to join them……all TD are power hungry so won’t take much to bring them on side.
A reminder of how many less seats that will be available and how many they will require in 2016 would be good….
Ógra Fianna Fáil response – So many things that make such a large dfference can be done so cheaply – https://twitter.com/eoinneylon/status/653989363576119296
Red arrow away but what the hell is usc?
have your say