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More childcare, schools and capital spending, and lots of tax changes - Sinn Féin's budget proposals

TheJournal.ie have received an advance copy of the party’s “alternative budget” to be unveiled today.

Pearse Doherty Sinn Féin Finance spokesman Pearse Doherty and new TD Louise O'Reilly protest against the Government's response to the EU Commission ruling on Apple tax last month. Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

SINN FÉIN HAS announced an “alternative budget”, which would abolish water charges and property tax, subsidise childcare and raise taxes on those earning over €100,000.

Capital spending proposals outlined by Sinn Féin last week would add €1.25 billion to existing government infrastructure plans.

This morning, the party unveiled its overall Budget 2017 proposals.

Taxes

As well removing the property tax, Sinn Féin say they would:

  • Raise capital acquisitions tax (CAT) from 33% to 36%.
  • Introduce an extra 7% tax on the portion of individual income earned over €100,000.
  • Introduce a new 15.75% rate of employers PRSI on the portion of salary paid in excess of €100,000 annually.
  • Reintroduce the second home charge (non-principle private residence tax) of €400 per annum.
  • Scrap plans to raise the inheritance tax threshold to €500,000. They say that the move would cost €75 million, and solely benefit just 2,128 people.
  • Introduce a 3% tax on betting shops and online betting exchanges.
  • Increase the price of cigarettes by 50 cent.

SF Sinn Féin TDs Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Mary Lou McDonald and Kathleen Funchion launch childcare proposals last week. Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

Other measures include:

  • Raising the bank levy by 10%.
  • Ending the reduced 9% vat rate on hotel rooms (but maintain it for bars and restaurants).
  • End ‘Double Irish’ tax mechanism for corporations, currently due to end by 2021.

Sinn Féin also wants:

  • €111 million to be spent on cutting childcare fees by an average of €96 per week;
  • the abolition of water charges and the property tax, costing €498 million combined;
  • And €500 million for school buildings, smaller primary school classes, “tackling third-level fees” and 1,000 additional apprenticeships.

It also has ambitions for the health service, however it allocates just €267 million extra for:

  • 500 additional hospital beds;
  • reducing the prescription charge by €1 each;
  • increasing ambulance cover;
  • and improving mental-health services.

Eoin O Broin Sinn Féin Housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin. Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

The party also wants to spend €270 million on:

  • raising the state pension by €5.70 a week, and
  • ending the current situation whereby some 65-year-olds must apply for the jobseekers’ allowance by restoring the full state pension to the age group (a €45 per week raise).

The budget proposal also mentions “backing rural Ireland” by creating jobs, restoring the farm assist payment and improving staffing of rural schools.

It also wants to employ more speech and language therapists and resource teachers, increasing respite care services by 20% and increasing disability and carer’s allowances.

Read: A hard rain’s a-gonna fall: it’s lashing out West (but other counties will stay dry)

Read: Clinton seizes offensive as Trump claims soldiers with mental health problems “can’t handle it”

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    Mute Keith Wizzy
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:30 PM

    Fair fooks to all involved. Ashamed to say I’d not known it was on.

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    Mute Rob Cunningham
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    Nov 14th 2013, 12:10 AM

    When is the next one?

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    Mute Bobby
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:42 PM

    What a great city

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    Mute Gerard McCarthy
    Favourite Gerard McCarthy
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    Nov 14th 2013, 1:18 AM

    Was there only one photographer in dublin, couldn’t have got a pic outside Dublin no? Typical!! Not to put dampener on it as was great cause fair play to those who ran, just a gentle reminder to media life exists outside of DUBLIN!!!!

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    Mute Derek Gannon
    Favourite Derek Gannon
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    Nov 14th 2013, 1:25 AM

    G’wan the chip on the shoulder. . . .

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    Mute Gerard McCarthy
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    Nov 14th 2013, 1:52 AM

    Feckin dubs ha!!

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    Mute Cian Hulm
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    Nov 14th 2013, 2:03 AM

    Does it really?

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    Mute Derek Gannon
    Favourite Derek Gannon
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    Nov 14th 2013, 2:03 AM

    Ah sure we’re all friends. . . I’m sure there will be photos of the cork run somewhere tomorrow.all the journalists on the score.ie are too busy trying to come up with more Roy keane articles for us then to worry about the night run anywhere else!!

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    Mute Dominique Lavin
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:55 PM

    Well done to everyone involved in this including my amazing brother in law Gary Seery all the running for such good causes :)

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    Mute Mark Doran
    Favourite Mark Doran
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    Nov 14th 2013, 5:57 AM

    Ran the race last night, had a great time :) thanks to all the organisers & volunteers for their free time & support. Well Done to all all over the Country & further a field.

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    Mute Fecky Din
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:54 PM

    Saw one of these in Vienna a couple weeks ago..really cool idea

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    Mute peter gaffney
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    Nov 14th 2013, 5:58 AM

    Should be ran in the phoniex park.

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    Mute Daniel Dunne
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    Nov 14th 2013, 4:32 PM

    Except for the lack of street lighting away from Chesterfield Avenue, it’s a nicer run but not practical for a run in the dark.

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    Mute Caroline Farrell
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    Nov 14th 2013, 2:46 PM

    I ran in Kilkenny with some friends.lovely night for it

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    Mute peter gaffney
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    Nov 15th 2013, 1:36 AM

    The reason i was suggesting it should be ran in the park is for a number of obvious reasons.
    Free traffic congestion
    Free parking where ever you want.
    Free lighting (generatated lighting).
    Don’t get me wrong i agree with the purpose of the run for charities and all that and i salute everybody that run’s the race…..just think its more of a suitable place.

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