Keeping in Touch Cllr. Michael
O'Connell FREE GP CARE FOR CHILDREN AGED 5 & UNDER Labour has secured funding of €37 million for the rollout of free GP care to children aged 5 or under. 250,000 children will benefit from this Budget measure. Over time it is our intention to roll free GP care out to the entire population. It makes sense for people to have easy access to their GP so that problems are caught earlier. If serious illness can be stopped or managed before ending up in hospital, it’s better for families and the patients. It will help reduce pressure at A&E’s and modernise delivery of healthcare in this country. This reform will ensure that families don’t have to worry about finding, on average, a €50 fee for the doctor when one of their children gets sick. No parent should have to prioritise bills when a child needs medical care. This is one of the first steps to a universal health insurance system that is focused on need, not income.
EXTRA FUNDING FOR HOME HEATING GRANTS €30 million in stimulus funding secured in Budget 2014 will now continue investment in the Better Energy and Warmer Home energy efficiency schemes to a total of €57 million. The Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households. Over 15,000 homes are expected to benefit from upgrade under this programme in 2014. The estimate for 2014 under the Better Energy Homes is that a further 17,000 homes will be retrofitted next year. Earlier this year, a €70 million Energy Efficiency Fund was established to encourage similar works in public and commercial buildings, which will also boost employment, a key deliverable of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. For further information on Better Energy Warmer Homes, call Freephone 1800 250 204 or email warmerhomes@seai.ie
M: 086 835 1333
E: moconnell@corkcity.ie
Keeping in Touch Cllr. Michael
O'Connell
€30 MILLION PROVIDED FOR NEW SOCIAL HOUSING Thanks to Labour there will be a €30m social housing in 2014 to increase local authority housing supply. It will enable the construction of new homes and refurbishment of long-term void units that are effectively no longer part of the housing stock.This is in addition to €100m invested in providing homes for the elderly, people with disabilities and people without a home.
TOURISM BOOST – 9% VAT RETAINED & AIRLINE TAX DITCHED Labour successfully campaigned to retain the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector in order to boost job creation. As a further support to the tourism sector, it was decided to reduce the air travel tax to zero with effect from 1 April 2014. Our tourism strategy is working. So far this year, we have seen a 6.5% rise in overseas visits and we are set to surpass the target set by The Gathering of an additional 325,000 visitors in 2013.
BOOK RENTAL SCHEME - REDUCING COSTS FOR FAMILIES It was announced in the Budget that an extra €5 million will be provided for each of the next three years to invest in book rental schemes so that they are available in every primary school in Ireland. Such book rental schemes can save parents of small children up to 80% of the cost of school books.
START YOUR OWN BUSINESS SCHEME Long term unemployed people starting their own business will be exempt from income tax for two years under the new Start Your Own Business Scheme (SYOB). The income tax exemption of up to €40,000 will be provided for people who have been unemployed for at least 15 months before starting their business. This may be of particular interest to unemployed construction workers who are looking to go out on their own or start up a business in a new sector.
HOME RENOVATION INCENTIVE Homeowners will be able to claim tax back of 13.5% on renovations and extensions carried out in their home through a new Home Renovation Incentive. Tax relief will be available for the next two years and will cover home renovations costing between €5,000 and €30,000 that is carried out by registered tradespeople. As well as helping homeowners this measure will give a much needed boost to construction workers.
Contact Michael:
Working with
78 Briars Court, Shanakiel. M: 086 835 1333 E: moconnell@corkcity.ie www.labour.ie/mickoconnell
Phil Prendergast MEP for IRELAND SOUTH M: 086 243 6891 E: phil@philprendergast.ie www.philprendergast.ie