Lack of Budgetary Vision Will Cost Us More in the Long Term The Social Democrats have criticised the stark lack of vision in Budget 2016 and claim that this is a budget for the next election rather than the next generation with a distinct lack of innovative thinking.



Speaking this afternoon, Stephen Donnelly, Social Democrat TD for Wicklow & East Carlow said:

“Surely we should have learned from the mistakes of the past by now. We have had the cycle of accrue it then give it away when an election looms. That is exactly what Fianna Fail has done for years and look where that got us. This budget today will ensure that the tax base is destabilised and critical investment in public and social services will be insufficient to stem the tide of decline in our services.”

“Yesterday, the Social Democrats launched an alternative budget that was fully revenue neutral and committed 100% of the €1.5bn to investment in key services as well as providing key supports to our small and medium businesses. Our budget would stabilise rather than destabilise the tax base. In his speech today, Minister Noonan spoke about how every measure in his budget was designed to grow the economy – but he neglected to say it is without the v”



“It was confirmed by a number of independent economists including Stephen Kinsella and Brian Lucey that the Social Democrats’ budget proposals were smart and well-costed with a vision for a future Ireland where every child has the opportunity to reach their potential. The suggestion from Government today is that you can improve the quality of life by simply cutting tax and that’s simply not true. You improve the quality of people’s lives by reducing the costs of living and investing in society, the economy and the future.”

13th October 2015 [Ends]



For Further Information Please Contact:



Anne-Marie McNally

01-6183591 / 086-3754315

annemarie.mcnally@socialdemocrats.ie

@amomcnally @socdems