TRALEE LABOUR NEWS Arthur J. Spring TD November 2015
USC SLASHED Workers will see big gains from the Budget decision to significantly reduce the Universal Social Charge (USC). 700,000 low earners will be taken out of the USC entirely and middle income earners will benefit substantially. An employee on the average industrial wage will benefit by more than €400 per year, while someone with a yearly income of €55,000 will increase their take home pay by €677.
A married couple with three children and a joint income of €41,500 will benefit by €1,457 in net pay. A married couple, no children and joint income of €58,460 will benefit by €1,002 per annum. Employees on salaries of up to €70,000 will see a benefit of up to €902 and for people earning more than €70,000 the benefit will be capped. The increases in take home pay will commence from January 1st. The Universal Social Charge was introduced as an emergency tax by the last Fianna Fáil Government after the crash in 2010. The Labour/Fine Gael Government has gradually reduced it and Labour is now committed to phasing out the USC for low and middle income earners.
SELF-EMPLOYED TAX In the modern economy a growing proportion of the workforce is becoming selfemployed. For the first time, a Government has acknowledged this in the Budget. A special Tax Credit of €550 will now be allowed for self-employed. There is also a targeted reduction to a Capital Gains Tax rate of 20%.
CHILDCARE From now children will be eligible for Free Childcare from 3 years of age until 5½ years or until they start primary school. A further €15 million has been allocated to facilitate the full participation of children with disabilities. A new 2 weeks Paternity Benefit will be launched from September 2016.
9% TOURISM VAT RATE RETAINED The 9% VAT rate has been retained again in Budget 2016, the measure has helped to see the industry grow and expand, creating employment and revenue for local communities. It is estimated that measures supporting the tourism and hospitality industry has created over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in Kerry. Nationally 22,300 jobs have been created in the restaurant and tourism industry since the VAT reduction in July 2011.
Honest and Effective Representation
CAPITAL PLAN €27 Billion Capital Plan Delivers for Kerry The government is to provide funding of €7.5 million towards the construction of the proposed Kerry Sports Academy planned for the North Campus of Tralee IT under the new Capital Plan. This new international centre of excellence will be home to: ■ UNESCO Chair - Transforming the Lives of People with Disabilities through Physical Education, Sport, Recreation and Fitness ■ CARA - National Centre for Adapted Physical Activity ■ Health and Leisure Department of the IT, Tralee ■ Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence
DID YOU KNOW...? That the Minimum Wage will be increased to €9.15 per hour from January 1st. A single worker on the minimum wage will see a €708 increase in annual income. And the Lansdowne Road Pay Agreement for Public Servants also commences from January 1st.
CARERS €1,700 The Government has reversed the cut in the Respite Care Grant which means that the new rate will be €1,700 for eligible Carers. As implied in the name, the grant is intended to enable 77,000 Carers to take a break from their very valuable work.
PENSIONS Senior Citizens will get an extra weekly increase of €3.00 in their Pension from January 1st as will Carers aged 66 and over. An extra €2.50 per week bringing the Fuel Allowance to €22.50 per week from January 1st for all long-term welfare recipients.
■ Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Sports and recreation are a vital part of life in Kerry and the new academy will be an important resource for everyone in the community involved in sports and recreation and supporting people with disabilities.
Building on Recovery in Kerry The Capital Plan will dramatically improve transports links to the county meaning better access for business and tourism. The main project invested in include: ■ Funding for Phase 4 of the Dingle Relief Road subject to Planning Permission being granted. ■ Upgrading the N22 Kerry/Cork Road with the Ballyvourney-Macroom By-Pass ■ The Adare By-Pass linking the N21 Kerry to Limerick Road with the M7 Motorway ■ The N69 Shannon-Foynes Road improving road links to North Kerry.
CHILD BENEFIT Child Benefit will be increased by €5.00 bringing the basic rate to €140 per child per month. The Family Income Supplement (FIS) income threshold to be increased by €5.00 for each of the first two children.
CHRISTMAS BONUS The Christmas Bonus this year, 2015, will be increased to 75%. For a single person this will bring the Christmas Bonus to €172.00 and for a couple to €330.00. .
SPORTS GRANTS Under the Sports Capital Grant 2015 Tralee based clubs received over €350,000 in funding. Austin Stacks GAA received €65,000, Kerry ETB received €90,000, St Brendan’s Park FC was awarded €55,000. The Sports Capital Programme ensures that as many clubs and organisations as possible have the facilities and equipment they need.
SCHOOLS The Government will continue the Schools’ Building Programme. In 2016 the Minister has funding to employ 2,260 new teachers including 600 new Resource Teachers. This is in addition to the 610 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and 190 Resource Teachers already announced this year. The pupil teacher ratio is being reduced at primary level from 28 to 1 to 27 to 1 and, at second level, from 19 to 1 to 18.7 to 1.
HOSPITALS Hospital staffing has increased by 3,000 since January 2014 Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin T.D., has said and almost 1,000 of these are nurses. Subject to negotiations with the doctors, Free GP Care will now be extended to all children under 12. The Fair Deal Scheme is now on a fully funded basis which means that everyone who needs Fair Deal funding will be approved within 4 weeks.
Arthur J. Spring TD Tel: 066 7125337 Email: arthur.spring@oir.ie @SpringAJ
Working with your local Labour Team
Senator Marie Moloney
Cllr Graham Spring 087 6506887 cllrgraham.spring@kerrycoco.ie
Tel: 064 6632034 Email: marie.moloney@oir.ie @SenatorMoloney
Cllr Terry O’Brien 087 2634196 cllrterry.obrien@kerrycoco.ie 0612