€3.8 BILLION HOUSING INVESTMENT
A MESSAGE FROM SEÁN SHERLOCK TD
In Budget 2015, investment in the building of new family homes is a priority: ■ €3.8 billion has been allocated for housing provision under an unprecedented multi-annual plan. ■ In 2015 alone, over €800 million has been allocated for the housing programme– the first major investment in housing since 2009 and a 40% increase in spending on 2014 levels. ■ This dramatically increased investment will deliver 7,500 family homes in 2015 and a total of 40,000 family homes by 2020. ■ Spending on homelessness services will increase by over 20% to €55 million.
BUDGET 2015: PRIORITISING WORK Budget 2015 provides an extra €3 billion in resources for the domestic economy. This will help to drive the already strengthening domestic economic recovery and support an additional 50,000 jobs next year, with unemployment set to fall further to 10% by the end of 2015. ■ To support the successful Pathways to Work programme in 2015, €1.6 billion will be made available to provide approximately 300,000 work and training places. ■ €12 million has been allocated for the JobPath initiative which matches the long-term unemployed with appropriate training and employment opportunities. ■ The number of JobsPlus positions has been doubled to 6,000 with a focus on young unemployed people.
PROTECTING EDUCATION 1700 NEW TEACHERS AND SNAS
The economy is growing and unemployment is falling. The first phase of the recovery is complete and we are now starting the second: restoring living standards for families, older people, and low and middle-income workers. The last few years have been difficult as the economic recovery begins to take hold it is important that the fruits of that recovery are shared in an equitable manner. That is why under Budget 2015, we are delivering a package of measures that primarily benefits low and middle income earners, working families and vulnerable groups. Labour has ensured this through reduced taxes for middle and low-income workers and targeted increases for a number of key supports, such as Child Benefit and the Living Alone Allowance. We are also ensuring significant investment in key public services including housing, education and health.
A guide to tax & entitlements
This is in addition to our ongoing unrelenting focus on job creation and helping jobseekers get back to work. Inside are details on some of the important Tax and Social Welfare measures that will help you and your family. If you need any assistance on this or any other matter please do not hesitate to contact me.
2015
Investing in education is a key Labour priority and in Budget2015 we have ensured that the improving economicsituation will help enhance education services:
■ New Teachers & SNAS: An investment of €88m in 2015 will ensure 1700 new teachers and
SEÁN SHERLOCK TD
SNAs will be employed in our schools during 2015. There will be 900 new classroom teachers in primary and second-level schools, 480 resource teachers and 365 SNAs.
■ Class Sizes: For the fourth year in a row, Labour has protected the class sizes in our schools.
Minister for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation
■ Back to School Costs: A second tranche of €5m will be provided in a three-year additional
investment in schoolbook funding for our primary schools, on top of the €15m already invested each year
Constituency Office: Davis (Flemings) Lane, Mallow, Co. Cork Tel: 022 53523 Fax: 022 57761 Email: sean.sherlock@oir.ie
■ Free Broadband for schools: We are investing €3m to ensure the high-speed broadband which has been installed in all post-primary schools is available to them free of charge
Minister for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation
Sean Sherlock TD
■ Early Childhood Education: Under Budget 2015, we will spend €600,000 on the immediate recruitment of thefirst ever team of early childhood education inspectors to greatly improve the quality of early childhood education.
SEÁN SHERLOCK TD
@seansherlocktd
Constituency Office Davis (Flemings) Lane, Mallow, Co. Cork Tel: 022 53523 Fax: 022 57761 Email: sean.sherlock@oir.ie
Working with
Pensioners have made a very significant contribution to supporting and developing economic recovery over recent years. The 0.6% Pension levy was introduced to help fund the Jobs Initiative and clearly played an important role in the positive jobs’ trend with 72,000 new jobs having been created since the peak of the crisis in 2012.
CLLR CATHAL RASMUSSEN
CLLR NOEL MCCARTHY
As a result of the recent emerging economic recovery, the 0.6% Pension Levy will end in 2014 and the additional 0.15% Pension Levy will expire at the end of 2015.
086 8878421 cathal.rasmussen@gmail.com
086 3751736 noelmccarthy28@hotmail.com 0612
ENDING THE PENSION LEVY