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Updated at 9am
IT’S THAT TIME of year again, when the Finance Minister dons a new tie and we hear all about where the government plans to spend our money for the year ahead.
And while there used to be much fanfare around Budget Day, the build-up is comparatively muted this year. This is partly due to there being limited cash in the pot for tax cuts and spending.
Speaking on his way into Government Buildings this morning, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wasn’t giving too much away – but spoke in broad terms about what people can expect today. Many of the measures have been in the public domain for some time already (here’s a quick run-down on what to look out for).
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will be announcing, he said, “further investments in health and education – more teachers, more nurses, more gardaí” along with “a very significant increase on spending on infrastructure – with big increases for housing and transport in particular”.
“There’s also a tax and welfare package which puts more money back in the pockets of taxpayers, working people, families, pensioners, people on welfare as well as measures to reduce the cost of living – particularly in relation to childcare and prescription medicines.”
Describing it as “a good Budget overall,” he cautioned:
There’s no fireworks, no big bonanza – but it is another small sustainable step in the right direction for the country.
Asked specifically about the tax package expected today, the Taoiseach said:
You’ll see a reduction in income taxes, you’ll see a reduction in the USC – the point at which people enter the higher rate of tax is coming down and that’s important because the only reason that we afford to run public services in Ireland, the only reason why we can now afford more investment in housing and transport is because nearly two million people in this country every day go to work. We believe they deserve something back.
“For an average family with two incomes you’re talking an extra five and six hundred euros a year,” Varadkar said. Coupled with savings in childcare and medicine costs the savings for that family may be a little higher, he said.
“It is modest but it is real,” he insisted.
And we’re also finding additional money for services, additional money for infrastructure and crucially, really crucially balancing the books for the first time in ten years.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, who arrived ahead of the Taoiseach at the Merrion Street entrance to Government Buildings this morning, confirmed additional free childcare measures for three and four-year-olds could be expected.
Additional staff would also be hired at child and family agency Tusla, she said. She also promised a “very big initiative” in relation to family resource centres which she said would “impact communities throughout the country”.
There are currently 109 such centres around the country, according to Tusla. The facilities give information, advice and support to families in disadvantaged areas.
One big difference compared to years gone by is that there will be just one Budget speech today (previously, we would have heard from the two ministers – Finance and Public Expenditure).
Due to Paschal Donohoe holding both the positions of Finance and Public Expenditure Minister, he’ll essentially be double-jobbing, with his Budget speech (likely to last under an hour) to begin at 1pm, a slightly earlier time slot than previous years.
The expenditure and taxation documents will be published simultaneously on the government’s Merrion Street website.
Following this, it will be time for the opposition to weigh in; there’s plenty time allotted for this in the Dáil – a good eight hours.
First up will be Fianna Fáil at 2pm, followed by Sinn Féin at 3pm, Labour at 4pm – followed by the smaller parties.
There won’t be any other Dáil business taking place today, and as you can see from the schedule (below) it’s going to go late into the evening.
You can watch all the day’s proceedings on the Oireachtas website. RTÉ will also have extensive coverage on TV and radio, with live coverage beginning shortly before 1pm.
We will be bringing you all of the measures and changes that affect you, your family and community, along with analysis and commentary.
Then on Wednesday evening, when you’ve had time to digest the facts and figures, TheJournal.ie will host a special one-off Facebook Live with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Donohue.
Kicking off at 8pm from Facebook’s Dublin HQ, we will be putting some of your concerns and observations to the Taoiseach and the minister, and digging into the thinking behind the decisions made for the country and what it means for our collective future. Here’s how to get involved.
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Great vote of confidence by aldi in Mitchelstown as an ideal location for distribution location. Killarney! Cork, Limerick, Waterford all between a 30 to 60 mile radius. Infrastructure great just beside the M8.
Mitchelstown was the home of good food until self destructing with farmers supporting bad management now it can reinvent itself as the top distribution hub for Munster and beyond. Congrats Aldi for seeing the benefits and also for excellent work in landscaping the site.
It’s a hell of a place they’ve built there….huge…..
Where did we buy stuff before Aldi and Lidl…. I can’t remember…
Remember the days when we didn’t go in for some spuds and come out with a pressure washer and a car radio?
Dunnes Tescos
Sure they will probably fill it with eastern Europeans , I have found very few Irish working in their stores,let’s see what percentage of their employees are actually Irish and what percentage of the 140 are Irish
Yes Paul, that is correct.
Do all employees not pay income tax to the State regardless of where they come from?
I’ve seen many Irish workers in Aldi/ Lidl all over the country, but there’s also many foreign nationals there too. Just because it’s not Irish workers getting jobs doesn’t mean it’s a waste, they still have to pay taxes like the rest of us and they too feel the hardship of the downturn. It’s not right putting down the good news of 160 new jobs just because Paddy didn’t get a handy number there.
It’s because alot of unemployed irish workers are snobs. They feel a job in Aldi is beneath them.
The number of Irish people employed by Aldi is a reflection of the number of Irish people who apply to work in Aldi. But don’t let that stop you and the other morons from turning a good story about job creation into some prejudiced rant.
I used to work in Lidl 3 or 4 years back (non store role) and vast majority of cvs flowing in for jobs were from foreign nationals (like way more than half, maybe 3/4) Why do you suggest in some comments then Lidl is favourable to foreigners that’s not true that’s just maths : more foreign cvs more foreign workers, simple. I don’t know if situation changed now and if they’re getting more Irish applications or not. Lidl is definitely equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against anybody. Face the facts in Celtic era many Irish were laughing at “cheap” brands jobs now its different story altogether. These cheap brands became market leaders and their jobs are most sought after (stability, good career prospect etc.)
They will hire local people , local polish people
Yes.
Because Irish wont do the job? Must be some reason…
They’ll still pay tax and contribute to the local economy.
@Norman
and all the money they send home ?
And all the associated costs of medical and welfare (and pensions in the future) ?
This idea that 500,000 foreigners somehow saved us from ourselves is bizarre.
Tick tock tick tock
The building in Mitchelstown is enormous. It can probably be seen from outer space!
Their offering 4 to 11 month contracts with some staff getting 4 hours per day 20 hours per week. Any jobs are welcome but its not going to lift Mitchelstown out of the economic gloom
Seems like student jobs not something to support a family on :(
This is how big retail stores work.
Small shops might be dear but they provide stability.
Must look it up
Aldi are creating jobs creating new tax payers and reducing the welfare bill. That’s excellent news. It’s worth noting that while other supermarkets pay their suppliers on average four months late Aldi and Indeed lidl both pay on their suppliers on time.
I agree with Paul G how many of the new workers will be Irish nationals ? As it seems to me that they employ a large ammount of foreign nationals.
They may be foreign nationals Paul but they’re living, working, paying tax and feeding the local economy
Now now sir this is 2013 u are not allowed to express an opinion that isn’t uber liberal i.e. pro immigrant, traveller, gay, feminist how very dare you :)
Good news for Mitchelstown. Doesn’t matter who they employee important thing is it means more money in the local economy.
Aldi gotta love it
This is great news, I think it’s time to get out the party poppers.
Great news! Every little helps!
+160 jobs at big shop
-160 jobs in small shops
It’s a distribution centre
Uhm yes and it only exists because their shops are forcing out other business.
I’d look at it another way. They’ve forced the indigenous Irish retailers like Supervalu and Dunnes to really up their game in order to compete. They’ve lowered food costs for thousands of struggling families around the country. Small shops are great but you don’t do your weekly shop in them. I know in the town I grew up in that the small shops were closing long before Lidl opened a store there. That’s just the way the world is going.
great news i live near enough to Mitchelstown. the distribution centre was built nearly 3 years ago but didn’t open (due to the economic downturn) fair play to Aldi for keeping the place in good condition. they did excellent work on the landscaping of the building Ps the place is humoungous so plenty of room for expansion if they go well good news for the local area
How many local jobs in small shops will be lost as most (though not all) of their good are imported?
Lidl n ildi owned by 2 brothers
wrong…Aldi is 2 separate companies, Aldi Nord & Aldi Sud, controlled by brothers. Lidl is a totally different company. Even Aldi Nord & Sud are separate entities.
And what about the employees in their distribution centre in Naas who they are currently letting go? 160 jobs is pure spin. They are not new -it is just a relocation.
Thats true Bears News and also for all suppliers who now need double their vehicles to deliver the same amount of products to 2 different sites with no increase in unit sales. But double the overheads. All pure spin !!!
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