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Donegal responds to Budget 2017
12.10.16
DONEGAL Opposition
politicians have been analysing Budget 2017 and
offering their assessments on how it will affect the
county.
Sinn Féin said the budget "lacks vision" with FF
saying it fails 100,000 farmers.
Independent TD., Thomas Pringle claimed it is an
"election" budget but conceded that it included
"some benefits" for Donegal people.
Sinn Féin finance spokesman Deputy Pearse Doherty
addressed the Dáil in his budget speech.
"During the past few decades the Irish people have
each year had to live with the consequences of
budgets drafted by Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil. One or
the other, time after time. Now we get both in one
Budget – the politics of the nod and wink, the
politics of short-termism," he said.
"Why are they shrinking the tax base, introducing
property tax incentives that will only push up house
prices, and relying on vulnerable tax receipts?" |
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Charlie McConalogue, Pearse Doherty
and Thomas Pringle. |
Fianna Fáil agriculture
spokesperson Charlie McConalogue said farmers in
disadvantaged areas would be disappointed by the
failure of the Government to increase Areas of
Natural Constraint (ANC) payments in Budget 2017.
“Restoring ANC payments to 2007 levels is a key
Fianna Fáil policy. The ANC scheme helps farmers
ensure that agricultural land is maintained and
sustained. Nearly 100,000 farmers are eligible for
ANC payments and should not have to wait until 2018
to see traction on ANC payment restoration." He said
it was also "regrettable" that no specific funding
was ring-fenced to provide financial assistance to
those who have seen their land and crop destroyed by
severe weather this year.
Meanwhile, Deputy Pringle said: “Some positives for
Donegal were the restoration of Farm and Fish Assist
back to pre- 2012 levels. This will benefit many
farmers and fishermen in Donegal but it has taken
many years of being the sole voice on this issue in
the Dáil and campaigning to see its restoration
today.
"I would’ve liked to see an increase in the daily
income limit of €12.70 for subsidiary employment to
allow farmers who work in seasonal employment to get
Jobseekers Benefit when they are paid off from work
as well."
He also welcomed the new Fisher's Credit but said
Budget 2017 was "really a phoney war" between FF, FG
and the Independent Alliance over the start date of
the next election. |
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