“A Do nothing Budget from a Do Nothing Dáil” – Sherlock

Sherlock disappointed with lack of Budget ambition

Cork East TD, Seán Sherlock, has expressed disappointment and frustration with the Government’s Budget unveiled this week, describing it as “a do-nothing budget in a do-nothing Dáil.”

“It has been designed by committee and makes a mockery of the Dáil reform process on which we had purportedly engaged after the last election,” said Deputy Sherlock.

We were supposed to have a more collaborative approach to budgetary mechanisms and the forming of the budget but these have not transpired. It is a do-nothing budget because on account of the political reality that exists at the moment, it spreads itself so thinly that it has no material benefit for any citizen.

Deputy Sherlock was critical of the Government supposed ‘savings’ of €200 million and also casted doubts on its commitment to bring public sector pay increases.

“I would like to nail that lie,” said Deputy Sherlock on pay increases.

“The provision relates to the restoration of pay. It is important that the impression not be conveyed from this House that it is for pay increases; it is for a hard fought for restoration of pay by the former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin.”

“This is a budget that misdirects resources in its scatter-gun approach. It provides an additional €50 million plus for child care services and over €25 million for a sheep scheme. It does very little by way of an impact on child care. The Labour Party’s budget submission on childcare was costed on the basis of the parameters provided for last week, notwithstanding the additional €200 million that has been found.”

“What we have instead is an opaque scheme, subject to publication of the details, which provides for subsidised child care from September 2017 for parents earning under €47,000, up to a figure of €8,000 for children from six months to 15 years old, and a €900 subsidy for those on a combined income above €47,000. If the budgetary process is to mean anything, these details should have been furnished to us. If we are about ensuring a more collaborative Dáil in checking the power of the Cabinet, we should have had the real detail in order to engage in a critique of it today and receive an early response in that regard.”

Deputy Sherlock also criticised the introduction of the Help-To-Buy Scheme for first time buyers of new homes, saying that it would pit such buyers against each other and drive up the cost of houses even more.

Deputy Sherlock’s speech is available to watch on his facebook page www.facebook.com/SeanSherlockT