Representatives for County Kildare have their say on Budget 2025

A number of Kildare-based councillors, Senators and TDs have given their thoughts about Budget 2025 to the Leinster Leader.

Last week, Kildare North TD Bernard Durkan of Fine Gael reacted positively to last week's Budget.

Now, the Leinster Leader has invited a number of representatives to discuss their views on Budget 2025.

The responses ranged from overwhelmingly positive to hard-hitting criticism.

Note: All photographs included in this article are file photographs.

PATRICIA RYAN, TD FOR KILDARE SOUTH (SINN FÉIN)

Sinn Féin (SF) TD for Kildare South responded with the following: "With regard to Budget 2025, as SF spokesperson for Older People, I am very disappointed that the government continue to have the Carer’s Allowance means tested.

"This means testing is carried out on an entire 'household' basis , which unfairly disadvantages the person actually providing the caring, effectively denying them equal and independent consideratiom

"SF in government would remove the means testing requirement for carers making the entire process more equitable and fair."

Deputy Ryan also said: "Additionally, this government have again failed the older people, caught in the private rental economy. SF's recently launched 'A Home of Your Own' plan, would address this issue, through ensuring more secure tenancy, affordable housing and affordable cost rental properties, would invest in the provision of much needed social and age appropriate housing and would reform the Residential Tenancies Board to protect the interests of older renters."

RÉADA CRONIN, TD FOR KILDARE NORTH (SINN FÉIN)

Deputy Ryan's comments were similarly echoed by SF TD for Kildare North, Réada Cronin, who said: "The €9 million allocated in Budget 2025 for mobile phone pouches is a scandalous waste of taxpayers’ money, particularly at a time when schools and our children are crying out for investment in mental health supports and special education, and schools are struggling to keep the lights on and keep buildings warm.

"Mary Lou McDonald wrote to the Taoiseach last week calling on him to reverse this indefensible spend; instead, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have doubled down on this decision. 

"This latest splurge comes on the back of the most expensive hospital in the world costing upwards of an eye-watering €2.2 billion, the €336,000 bike shed, the €1.4 million security hut, and forking out €442,000 on modular homes that were supposed to cost €200,000.

"The government has an opportunity here to hold its hands up and admit it got this wrong."

Deputy Cronin continued: "I am calling on TDs in Kildare North to reject this ludicrous allocation of funds and instead endorse SF's call to invest this badly needed funding in mental health services and schools.”

She also accused the government of having 'no plan to fix the big problems in society', and of 'throwning in the towel on housing and health.'

Deputy Cronin continued: "It is clear that they have thrown in the towel on health and housing... it simply beggars belief that despite having a surplus of €24bn that the government has provided no additional money to increase housing output.

"This is a government that has all the resources but is incapable and unwilling to deliver the change that is required.

 "In contrast, SF's alternative budget set out a real alternative for our people. We outlined how we would make housing affordable, delivering 300,000 public and private homes over five years; homes that are secure and affordable.

"We set out how we would fundamentally change our childcare system by introducing childcare at €10 a day per child, which would be a game-changer for families. 

"Crucially, our alternative budget was an action plan to tackle the cost of living, one that gives workers and families a break and puts money back into people’s pockets.

"That includes the abolition of the USC on the first €45,000 of income for all workers, which would benefit every worker, with USC removed from all or most of their income.

"We also introduced the most substantial package of supports ever presented for carers in a single budget, increasing the thresholds for carers from €900 to €1,460 for a couple, and we have committed to abolishing the unfair means test for carers in government."

She concluded: "A choice between those repeated failures of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, or a new government that will roll-up its sleeves and get down to work, delivering real solutions and a better life for ordinary people and our communities."

CLLR ROB POWER OF THE KILDARE-NEWBRIDGE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT (FIANNA FÁIL)

Fianna Fáil Cllr Rob Power had this to say about Budget 2025: "Any talk of this being 'a giveaway budget' needs to face three facts: contributions to the Future Ireland fund will be €4.1bn next year; the amount set out in cost of living measures was not as high as budget 2024 (€2.2bn versus €2.7bn); and, critically, the same €100 worth of groceries that a Kildare family purchased at the start of this government's term now costs €120.

"That level of inflation cannot be corrected in one budget or even two, so I welcome the continuation of measures like the energy grant and increased child benefit of payments which will benefit hard pressed families."

Cllr Power added: "I would like to see government introduce smarter measures to ensure these payments can be targeted to lower income families in the future; this will ensure the same social benefit but give us greater bang for our buck as taxpayers."

SENATOR MARK WALL OF ATHY (LABOUR PARTY)

Similar to Deputies Ryan and Cronin, Senator Mark Wall of the Labour Party  was also very critical of Budget 2025: "I believe in the main this budget was a wasted opportunity for so many in living here in Kildare South.

"There is no doubt that the short term double payments will be welcomed, but as the ad says: 'when they are gone, they are gone', and families will be left waiting on services and health care for their loved ones, housing for their family and their grown up children, school places and school buses for their children while paying some of the highest childcare costs n the country."

The Athy politician continued: "Currently we have1,400 waiting more than a year for intervention in Kildare South, the highest waiting list for assessment of needs in the country.

"Not a day goes by where I get multiple calls from those facing the threat of homelessness or working couples who simply cannot access the property ladder.

"We should have used the Apple money to once and for all tackle this housing crisis.

"What we needed was to invest the hard earned taxes of those working into services that will improve the quality of life of all families in Kildare South.

"The government have missed such an opportunity simply because there is an election in the air... but most importantly, what families and individuals I deal with want is deliveries, not promises, not future dates like the carers I deal with, who must wait until July of next year to get a full carers payment or actually qualify in the first place. 

"This budget allowed this government the opportunity to deliver hope for the hard-working families and communities right throughout Kildare South; instead of delivering, the government concentrated on short term measures. 

He concluded: "It’s time our prosperity was used to deliver an Ireland that works for all... it’s time for that General Election."

SENATOR FIONA O'LOUGHLIN, NEWBRIDGE (FIANNA FÁIL)

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, who is based in Newbridge, reacted positively to Budget 2025 for the most part.

She said: "I believe that Fianna Fail’s input into the Budget prioritised helping people, families and businesses with the increased cost of living, and increasing investment in housing, water, energy and key infrastructural projects."

Senator O'Loughlin also listed what she referred to as 'some of the key headlines' from the latest Budget:

• "A €12 increase in the state pension.
• Over-70s are to benefit from a new 'bring a friend' expansion of the free travel scheme.
• The point at which people pay the higher rate of tax of 40 per cent (pc) will increase from €42,000 to €44,000.
• The personal, employee PAYE and earned income tax credits will go up by €125.
• The rate of Universal Social Charge is reduced from four pc to three pc on incomes €25,000 to €70,000.
• Parents of newborns will receive a one-off payment of €420.
• €15 weekly increase in maternity, paternity and parents’ benefit.
• Free IVF scheme will be expanded.
• A record allocation of €1.35 billion in Defence funding in Budget 2025; an increase of €100 million compared to Budget 2024.
• Two double payments of Child Benefit in November and December.
• A double payment of all welfare rates in October and December.
• A €400 lump sum for those in receipt of the working family payment.
• Weekly social welfare payments such as the state pension, Carer’s Allowance, disability payments and Jobseeker’s Allowance will rise by €12.
• Students will get €1,000 off their college fees and postgraduate students will see their fee contribution grant increase from €4,000 to €5,000. 
• Free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women.
• Renters tax credit will increase to €1,000.
• Expansion of free schoolbooks to all second level students."

However, she added: "I was disappointed regarding the nine pc VAT rate not being in place for the hospitality industry.

"It was positive to see income disregards for carers, however, I would like to see Carer's Allowance move to a system where it is not means tested."

DR CATHAL BERRY, TD FOR KILDARE SOUTH (INDEPENDENT)

Dr Cathal Berry, TD for Kildare South, also offered his views to the Leader regarding Budget 2025.

The Independent politician said: "On balance, it was an okay budget: the income tax cuts, social welfare increases and additional supports for young families are all positives.

"But while the headline allocations are to be welcomed, the concern as always is in the implementation. 

"For instance, the €100m increase in the Defence budget will only be helpful if it is used, rather than returned unspent to the Exchequer."

Deputy Berry continued: "The increase in the Education budget should also help increase the number of places in schools and on the school bus system across Kildare which are desperately needed.

"On the downside, I'm very disappointed to see that there was no movement towards the nine pc VAT rate for the Hospitality sector.

"We rightly roll out the red carpet for multinationals, but we should also do so for our own indigenous small and medium-sized enterprises."

"Expect to hear much more on this during the Finance Bill debates in the coming weeks," he concluded.